Walk : The Fairfield Horseshoe – Low Pike (1,657ft), High Pike
(2,155ft),
Dove Crag
(2,603ft), Hart Crag (2,698ft), Fairfield (2,863ft),
Great Rigg (2,513ft), Heron Pike
(2,003ft), Nab Scar (1,450ft)
Date : 25th March 2011
Weather : Warm sunshine, fine
visibility
Distance : 11 miles round trip
Difficulty :
Moderately hard, allow 5 or 6 hours and good weather to do this walk
Which
part of Lakeland is this walk situated
Terrain
Overview
Overview
One of Lakelands classic horseshoe
walks with the convenience of easy access from Ambleside town
centre. The walk described here is
done in an anti-clockwise direction, the advantage being the less
severe steep slope of Low Pike to
start with to gain height as opposed to the very steep start that is
offered by Nab Scar going in the
clockwise direction. Either way this is a magnificent full day walk
The car park at the north end of Ambleside
on the Rydal Road is the starting point for this walk. From the
car park, cross the main road and
head for Sweeden Bridge Lane. This shot of Nab Scar
is taken from the Lane
Heading towards the bridge crossing
and the ridge line of Low and High Pike forming one side of
the Scandale
valley
Approaching Sweeden
Bridge. From here the path veers left towards the lower slopes of Low Pike,
it’s a
case of just following it to start
on the obvious climb alongside the wall leading upwards
After the initial height is gained,
the route forward becomes apparent. The wall leads unerringly
towards High Pike
From High Pike the wall becomes a
bit more broken up however it can still act as a sure guide towards
the summit of Dove Crag. From here
on the horseshoe becomes more apparent, here the head of
Fairfield can be seen
Looking across over Scandale and the Far Eastern range of Fells
Looking across to the return leg of
the horseshoe, here Heron Pike and Great Rigg
Here on the top of Hart Crag
looking back south towards Windermere
Approaching the top of Fairfield
and the Grizedale Valley to the north
On the summit of Fairfield looking
south towards Windermere
After lunch on top of Fairfield I
head off towards Great Rigg on the return leg of the horseshoe.
This is excellent walking
Looking back towards Fairfield at
the head of the valley and Hart Crag to the right
Dropping down from Great Rigg to
Heron Pike
Looking west towards Easdale Tarn
Rydal Water from the path to Heron
Crag
Rydal and Grasmere
From the top of Nab Scar a view
down to Rydal Water, which gives an indication of its steepness.
The path down to Rydal Hall is easy
to follow, it’s then just a case of following the A591 back into the
centre of Ambleside
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