Route: Haystacks
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 23rd March 2017
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 5.6 miles
Weather: cloudy, brightened up near the end
Today’s plan was for a short morning fellwalk, though as things turned out it wasn’t a short walk at all and took about 5 hours instead of the usual 2 or 3. I parked at Gatesgarth and after crossing Peggy’s Bridge I started the climb up to Scarth Gap. This was easy going, but the going got tougher shortly when I reached the snowline. The climb up to Haystacks is quite steep beyond the gap and was made harder today by slushy and slippery snow, so that great care had to be exercised in order to avoid a slip and trip
The views from the summit were rather disappointing – the light was murky and the long distance views were hazy so I didn’t linger on the top and set out on the complicated crossing above Green Crag. Navigation on Haystacks is never a straightforward affair, and as Wainwright puts it ‘the only advice that can be given to a novice lost on Haystacks in mist is that he should kneel down and pray for safe deliverance’
There was no mist today but the paths were mostly hidden under snow, and where visible had turned into streams. Even though this was my 15th time up here I had to keep checking my course
Eventually I arrived at Warnscale Beck and made a very slow descent down the slippery path to Warnscale Bottom. By now the skies had cleared and sunshine accompanied me back to the start of this classic round
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
Yesterday - a red squirrel in the garden on a day of non-stop rain and sleet
Gatesgarth Farm at the start of today’s walk
…and the destination - Haystacks
My route will take me to the right of the plantation and then behind it
Buttermere pines, and above them my eventual descent path at the foot of the snowy section (it looks worse than it is)
Bothy at the head of Buttermere
Warnscale Beck from the footbridge, with Haystacks up on the right
Looking back to Gatesgarth
Highland cattle guarding the gate - not an issue as they are friendly creatures
Another view back to Gatesgarth at the start of the climb
Head of Buttermere and the bothy
A view back down the path
I’m heading for the pass at Scarth Gap, then Haystacks top left
Haystacks looms ever larger
Looking across to Warnscale Bottom
The big toe of Fleetwith Pike
Scarth Gap, and the going gets a little tougher from here…
Looking across to Fleetwith Pike
Buttermere and Crummock Water
Heading for the top
Summit of Haystacks…
Robinson and Hindscarth
Great Gable, looking like a Himalayan peak in these conditions…
Having left the summit, I pass by the contradiction in terms that is Innominate Tarn
Fleetwith Pike on the right
Care was needed on this section around the face of the crag
A few patches of sunshine appear near the head of Buttermere
Blackbeck Tarn
Start of the descent into the valley, which took an eternity on account of the wet and slippery snow
I pass by Warnscale Head bothy
Looking down to Warnscale Bottom
High Crag
The Buttermere valley
Waterfalls in Warnscale Beck
My path back to the start is on the right of the picture
I cross the footbridge over Warnscale Beck
Looking back
Buttermere pines
Another view back
Gatesgarth and journey’s end is just around the corner
A last look back up to Haystacks
The Honister Pass seen as I reach the end of the walk
