Double High - no photos today
Back to Buttermere for a classic ridge walk and as good a pair of bonus fells as anyone could wish for. From Buttermere village across the flat green divide between Buttermere and Crummock Water to the start of the path up to Red Pike, no gentle introduction just straight up the fell on a warm March day.
Having quickly gained height, the path crosses less steeply over to Sourmilk Gill for a scenic hundred feet of ascent to the wild, natural amphitheatre that contains Bleaberry Tarn. From the tarn is a steep red path up to the summit of the appropriately named Red Pike for a brilliant view on a brilliantly sunny day.
From Red Pike over High Stile to High Crag is arguably the best ridge walk in the Lake District, excellent value for a surprisingly minimum amount of effort. The pick of the views bring Pillar and then Great Gable and between them the book ends of Scafell and Scaffel Pike either side of Mickledore ridge.
The descent of High Crag by Gamlin End feels steep, from the bottom of the hill it looks impossible. Over the intermediate knobbly summit of Seat that has a remarkable resemblance to its big brother, Haystacks. Although lacking in height, Haystacks is a very interesting hill, its rocky path makes it seem like climbing a mountain and its craggy features put other mountains to shame. The summit contains many rocky uprisings and tarns that would take a long time to explore.
There are many fine views from the top of Haystacks but the view of Gamlin End makes High Crag look unattainable from this direction. A varied path, a mixture of rock and marsh, leads over to Dubs Bottom with its disused quarry.
The way up Fleetwith Pike is pathless until a path is found near the still active quarry, through heather and boulders until the summit is reached, perched high above the valleys of Warnscale and Gatesgarthdale. The path down the North-West ridge of Fleetwith Edge is steep and sometimes loose, not difficult as such but you are aware that there is nothing between your nose and the Honister Pass road far below.
From the foot of Fleetwith Pike is a three-mile slog on the tarmac back in the heat of late afternoon to the National Trust Car Park at Buttermere. Dehydration forces me into the Fish Hotel for a couple of well-earned shandies, it shouldn’t be as warm as this in March.
Andy Wallace 29th March 2002