Walk :
Haystacks
Date :
28th September 2011
Weather :
Hot and Sunny
Route Details : Gatesgarth,
Scarth Gap, Haystacks, Green Crag, Warnscale, Gatesgarth
Distance :
Approx 5 miles
Click here
to see which part of Lakeland this walk is situated ….
Overview
We had booked a week in the Bowness for the last
week in September. The weeks leading up to it were not promising
with rain almost every day, Autumn was
setting in. Then hey presto the last week in the month was unbelievable 25°C
heat throughout the week. This excursion
of AW’s most revered of fells was an absolute joy. To quote the great man …
“Coupled with a return by the Warnscale
route to make a full round journey, the ascent of Haystacks via the pass of
Scarth Gap is a prelude of much merit and
beauty to a mountain walk of unique character, the whole distance being
no more than five miles. Save it however
for a fine clear day” …. Well they certainly don’t come much finer than today !
Parking the car at the
farm was a bit of a struggle, the Ice cream vans out in force doing a roaring
trade. Here on the
Start from Gatesgarth
farm, with Red Pike, High Stile and High Crag dominating the skyline
Across the track from the
farm and the start of the climb
The path then swings to
the left and climbs steeply
Out of the wooded area now
and the towers of Haystacks come in to view.
Even higher now aiming for
the first check points of Low and High Wax Knott
Looking back towards
Gatesgarth, and no it’s not a Goodyear blimp just a weird cloud shadow
Looking across over to
Fleetwith Pike
Onwards now and the next
check point – Scarth Gap
At the top of Scarth Gap
now and the breath taking views start to unfold, here Kirk Fell and the bulk of
Pillar, but
onward now and a bit of
scrambling up the north tower to get to the top of Haystacks
Looking back after the
initial climb towards High Crag to the north
Just before the drop down
to Innominate Tarn a pause for a photo opportunity
Innominate
Wainwright requested that
his ashes be scattered here. It certainly is worth taking the time out and
visiting all of
Haystacks summits, I think
that day I must have stayed on top for at least an hour
Looking over towards Great
Gable ….
On the way now to
Warnscale and here is a classic view of Buttermere and Crummock Water.
Further round now and a
sight of the ridge leading towards Crummock Water
Further round still …
Eventually the path leads
down the side of Fleetwith Pike and what follows is a gentle steady drop on a
decent track
Looking back from the
descent now towards Scarth Gap and the “towers” of Haystacks
Back down at the farm now
with the sun casting shadows over Fleetwith pike
And where I’ve just come
from, a perfect day draws to a close. A love of the lakes ??? – Oh yes !!!
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2011