“Any person so favoured may recline on the turf and witness, in his minds eye, a varied pageant of history”
A Wainwright
The huge grassy ridge of High Street is the highest point of the Far Eastern Fells and the grassy slopes give some great ridge walking.
Along the High Street ridge runs a Roman Road, the road between Brougham Fort at Penrith and the fort at Ambleside.
Let our experienced guides take you from Hartsop in the Patterdale Valley on a circuit of these fells with their stunning scenery where we often see Red Deer in the valleys and even the occasional sighting of a Golden Eagle.
“It is sometimes difficult to recall the details of familiar summits but surely all who have climbed Thornthwaite Crag will identify it in memory by it's remarkable 14 feet column, one of the most distinctive cairns in Lakeland”
A Wainwright
From the village of Hartsop we will climb by the Hayeswater Reservoir via the summits of The Knott and Rampsgill Head, crossing the Straits of Riggindale with spectacular views down over Riggindale, the home of the last remaining Golden Eagle, before climbing to the summit of High Street, the Highest of the Far Eastern Fells.
The wonderful summit of High Street is a wonderful viewpoint of the eastern fells, a gentle walk along the summit ridge will lead us to the summit of Thornthwaite Crag, with a tall pillar of stones on the site of a Roman beacon fire.
From Thornthwaite Crag we will descend north along the fine ridge to Gray Crag before descending back to Hartsop Village.
Each participant will be required to bring suitable equipment for their chosen event, please see Kit List tab above.
Where to meet: Hartsop
Postcode: CA11 0NZ
Grid Reference: NY 410 130
Directions
From the South Lakes: From the A591 between Ambleside and Windermere turn onto the A592. Follow this road over the Kirkstone Pass descending to Brothers Water. After the road passes a turning to the right, continue past Brothers Water, when a lane is seen to the right, with a bus shelter on the corner follow this lane finding a car park at the end of the lane, through the village of Hartsop, we will meet here.
From the North Lakes: From the A66 between Keswick and Penrith turn off onto the A592, near the Rheged Centre, signposted to Ullswater, follow this road south along the shore of Ullswater past the villages of Glenridding and Patterdale. Continue on this road, shortly after the road turns sharply over a bridge a lane will be seen to the left, to Hartsop, there is a bus shelter on the corner. Follow this road to it's end where a car park will be found, at the far end of the village, we will meet here.
Bus Services
Hartsop is serviced by the 508 bus (seasonal service), the bus stop is on the main road at the bottom of the village, 5 minutes walk from the meet point.
The 508 bus runs between Penrith and Patterdale throughout the year, during summer months the bus also connects Patterdale with Windermere and Hartsop.
Stagecoach bus timetables can be viewed here