Route: Fleetwith Pike and Haystacks
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 12th October 2016
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 5.6 miles
Weather: Bright spells at first but clouded over later
We parked in the car park at Gatesgarth Farm and walked beside the Honister Pass road for a few yards before turning off to start the climb up Fleetwith Pike. It’s a relentlesss climb around Low Raven Crag, along Fleetwith Edge and thence to the summit. The ridge looks alarming seen from below, and while there are some steep sections where hands are needed, there’s nothing to frighten the horses – it’s a delightful climb. The enjoyment was enhanced today by some good light and wonderful retrospective views over Buttermere and Crummock Water
From the summit we made our way along the knobbly hinterland of the fell across to Haystacks, Wainwright’s favourite fell. The weather had closed in a little by now but this didn’t matter as the fell has so many interesting features and is worth a visit in any weather – except mist, as it’s quite a confusing place with many steep crags
We descended steeply to Scarth Gap and then down Scarth Gap Pass to the shore of Buttermere. From there it was an easy stroll across the head of the lake back to the start
It had been a superb walk in dramatic mountain scenery
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)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
Red squirrel in the garden before we set off this morning…
The start of the walk from Gatesgarth Farm - we walk along the road, but not for long
The Honister Pass at the point where we start the climb up Fleetwith Pike to our right
The only way is up
High Crag and High Stile
We pass by the Fanny Mercer Cross
Early morning sun casting good light along the Honister Pass…
The first of many lovely retrospective views over Buttermere and Crummock Water
Buttermere pines, looking down to Warnscale Bottom
Buttermere and Crummock Water with Mellbreak in the background
Haystacks and Scarth Gap, where we’ll be later
Looking down to the Honister Pass
Herdy
That view again
Happy memories of climbing Fleetwith Pike with our children nearly 20 years ago
Bonnie waits for us to catch up on one of the rocky sections
Green Crag and the two paths down to Warnscale Bottom, for anyone looking to omit Haystacks from the agenda
Pillar
Looking down to the Honister Pass
Buttermere pines
Summit of Fleetwith Pike looking towards Scarth Gap, our eventual descent route
Another view from the summit
Haystacks and Pillar in mono
The lumps and bumps of the terrain which we cross on the way to Haystacks
We descend to the old mining track below
The way to Haystacks
We pass by a disused mining hut
Buttermere and Crummock Water come back into view
Blackbeck Tarn with Great Gable in the background
We make our way around Green Crag
Warnscale Bottom
Looking back to Fleetwith Pike
The contradiction in terms that is Innominate Tarn
Great Gable
Looking back to Innominate Tarn
Great Gable looking majestic seen from here…
…and again from the summit of Haystcks, with Kirk Fell on its right
Ennerdale
Having descended to Scarth Gap we follow the path to the head of Buttermere
The toe of Fleetwith Pike, which we’d climbed at the start of the walk
The track which we will follow back to Gatesgarth
The bothy at the head of Buttermere
Warnscale Beck and Buttermere pines from Peggy’s Bridge
The bothy again
Back to Gatesgarth
