“on the north side the Fairfield range is magnificent: here are dark precipices, long fans of scree, abrupt crags, desolate combs and deep valleys: a tangle of rough country, small in extent but full of interest, and well worth the exploration”
A Wainwright
A wonderful ridge climbing high above the Grizedale Valley to the summit of St Sundays Crag, Pinnacle Ridge doesn't lack in glorious scenery and some of the best scrambling in the Lake District.
“Every walker who aspires to high places and looks up to at the remote summit of St Sundays Crag will experience an urge to go forth and climb up to it, for it's challenge is very strong. It's rewards are equally generous, and altogether this is a noble fell. Saint Sunday must surely look down on his memorial with profound gratification”
A Wainwright
Pinnacle Ridge offers some great alpine style scrambling in the heart of the Lake District, a wonderful jagged ridge climbing to the summit of St Sundays Crag.
From the Patterdale Hotel there are two routes to the foot of Pinnacle Ridge, we can either follow the Grisedale Valley and then take the old zig-zag path up into Blind Cove before contouring around to the foot of the scramble or we can climb by Thornhow End and along the northern flank of Birks to reach Blind Cove.
Once the hard part of the walk in is done and we are at the foot of Pinnacle Ridge the fun begins, good scrambling over jagged rocky ridges leads us to more awkward moves above, as we climb a steep corner to reach the pinnacles above.
Once on the pinnacles we follow the crest of the ridge, climbing up and down the pinnacles to the saddle beyond. Here the final buttress offers some more great but exposed scrambling until we emerge on the St Sundays Crag ridge just a few minutes walk from the summit.
From St Sundays Crag we have several options for descent including dropping down over Gavel Pike, Birks and Arnison Crag.
Each participant will be required to bring suitable equipment for their chosen event, please see Kit List tab above.
Where to meet: Outside the Patterdale Hotel, Patterdale
Postcode: CA11 0NL
Grid Reference: NY 397 158
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 to the village of Patterdale where the Patterdale Hotel will be seen to the left, we will meet outside the Hotel entrance, a pay and display car park is opposite the hotel.
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 to Patterdale. The Patterdale Hotel will be seen on the right hand side, we will meet outside the Hotel entrance, a pay and display car park is opposite the hotel.
Each participant is expected to have suitable personal equipment for their activity this should include the following:
- Walking shoes / Boots
- Waterproof clothing (Jacket and trousers)
- Suitable clothing for walking (no jeans)
- Warm tops
- Packed lunch
- Spare clothing
- Water
- Hat
- Gloves
For winter walks (November to March) events please also bring the following:
- Torch (preferably a headtorch)
- Spare batteries for the above
- Spare Gloves
- Flask & Hot Drink
The Following equipment may also be useful if owned:
The following equipment will be provided by The Lake District Walker should winter conditions require:
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