“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 great route up a spectacular mountain in the heart of the Lake District, not all big mountain days have to be long, this route can be completed in a little under four hours, taking in 3 Wainwright summits along the way, including the wonderful top of St Sundays Crag, although when the hills are this good there's no need to rush, there is plenty to explore along the way.
“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
From Patterdale we follow the path behind the hotel, after a short while turning of up the steep slope of Thornhow End. A good path brings up up quickly to the wall, above the trees here it's worth stopping for a well earned break and to admire the views behind you, across the Patterdale Valley to the High Street Range and even more spectacular down the valley to Ullswater.
Our path continues to climb, but now more gently as we skirt the northern slopes of Birks, until, above Blind Cove we reach the col on the ridge. From here a good path climbs to the south west up to the summit of St Sundays Crag and the spectacular views across much of Lakeland.
For those with an interest in scrambling routes, a short detour just before the summit of St Sundays Crag will bring us to the top of Pinnacle Ridge, one of the most famous scrambles in the Lake District, a wonderful grade 3 route up the side of St Sundays Crag.
A short detour from the summit of St Sundays Crag brings us down to Gavel Pike, with glorious views over the unspoilt Deepdale Valley below.
From Gavel Pike we turn to the north, skirting round above Gavel Moss on a good path to rejoin the main path before descending to the col between St Sundays Crag and Birks.
A grassy walk along the ridge now brings us up to the small cairn that marks the summit of Birks, a little further along the ridge we turn to the right to descend alongside an old wall to Trough Head and the ridge out to the summit of Arnison Crag with it's wonderful view over the foot of Ullswater.
A short descent from Arnison Crag will bring us back down to Patterdale.
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.
Bus Services
Glenridding is served by a seasonal bus service from Ambleside and a more regular service from Penrith.
Stagecoach bus timetables can be viewed here
© 2019 The Lake District Walker Limited. All Rights Reserved.