Wainwrights in 21 Days

28km & 2356m (17miles & 7728ft)

Predicted Walking Time 9hr 01m

To download the gpx file click on the button below.

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A trip in the Eastern Wainwrights, for early spring when the bracken is low. I was trying to avoid doing the Fairfield Horsehoe yet again, but see my suggestions at the end if you want a more "sensible" route than this one.

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Starting from Rydal the route goes first over Loughrigg and Silver How. (You could, of course, start in Grasmere and do these at the end.)

 

From Grasmere work upwards to Stone Arthur and then Great Rigg to join the Fairfield Horseshoe. Continue to Hart CRag and divert to Hartsop above How. Returning from there, save yourself some climb by contouring across to the Dovedale path. Rejoin the Horseshoe again and continue to Low Pike. 

 

From Low Pike, descend West down the slope, aiming for Buckstone's Jump. The path crosses the stream North of the big boulder above the swimming pool.

 

You will now see why I suggest doing this in Spring. The route goes directly up the slope to join the ridge just South of Heron's PIke. When the bracken is high this is a nightmare, but earlier in the year it is perfectly passable. From Heron Pike descend the ridge to Rydal.

 

To avoid the off piste section, you could simply go round the normal horseshoe, diverting to visit Stone Arthur. You could visit Loughrigg and Silver How either before or after completing the horseshoe. It's probably a more sensible route, but the section from High Pike across the valley to Heron's Pike is very entertaining.

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