Route: Circuit of Low Rigg
Area: Central Lake District
Date of walk: 6th March 2015
Walkers: Andrew Gilly Phil and Denise
Distance: 5.5 miles
Weather: Mostly overcast with some brighter spells, very windy
We parked by Castlerigg Stone Circle and after spending a few minutes wandering around this atmospheric place joined a footpath leading to High Nest. There were tremendous views along the valley as we followed the easy path
Just beyond High Nest we reached the busy A591 but thankfully left this just a few yards further along before heading to the col between High Rigg and Low Rigg. We followed the track between these two fells, stopping briefly to admire St John’s in the Vale Church, before heading down into St Johns in the Vale, a heavenly little valley which is one of lakeland’s great secrets – we never seem to see anyone else here and this proved to be the case again today
We couldn’t resist a short detour along St John’s Beck in the wrong direction – it was looking irresistible – before heading back north towards Yew Tree Farm and Shundraw
A quiet road section followed which lasted for 20 minutes or so, until we joined a footpath leading across the fields up to Goosewell Farm and the end of a very enjoyable walk
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
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Red squirrel activity in the garden earlier today
Castlerigg Stone Circle looking towards High Rigg
On with the walk
Looking across to Low Rigg and Clough Head beyond it
Further along the valley
We pass through High Nest
Nest at High Nest
Our path takes us to the buildings ahead and over the pass between Low Rigg and High Rigg
Clough Head dominates the scene as we approach Sykes
The knobbly ridge of High Rigg on the right
Looking towards Blencathra
We cross the footbridge over Naddle Beck
Blease Fell leading up to Blencathra
Looking along the valley just before we start the climb up the pass
Looking back as we gain height
Approaching the Youth Centre at the top of the pass
St John’s in the Vale Church, next to the Youth Centre
Descending into St John’s in the Vale
The rocky crags of Clough Head
Bridge House ahead
We pass between Bridge House and the old barn opposite
Beautiful St John’s Beck
The beck is looking irresistible, so we detour along its bank for a short distance
Clough Head again
Retracing our steps past Bridge House
Last photo of the beck as we start the return leg of our walk
Blencathra
……and again
Denise and Gilly on the lane beyond Shundraw
Approaching Goosewell Farm, near the end of the walk
A last look along the valley, with Low Rigg and High Rigg on the left, before we arrive back at the start
