High Rigg walk - walks near Keswick

Route: High Rigg

Area: Central Lake District

Date of walk: 12th September 2024

Walkers: Andrew

Distance: 5.8 miles

Ascent: 1,300 feet

Weather: Mostly sunny

This is a walk I’ve followed often and it’s one of my favourites. On previous occasions I’ve parked in the car park at Legburthwaite, but since my last visit nearly 4 years ago the access track to the car park has deteriorated badly and is full of deep potholes. I’m not sure if the car park is open now, so I recommend parking on the nearby wide verge of the A591 where there is space for 20 or so cars. I walked beside the busy A591 (but only for a minute or so) and then crossed a ladder stile beyond which lies an obvious path up Wren Crag. The flanks of the crag are adorned by some fine old pine trees, but it’s a shame that a number of these – perhaps 20 or 30 – fell victim to gales several years ago. The so-called ‘Beast from the East’, which was followed by a couple of other gales from the same direction, was the obvious culprit, since the trees are all lying on an east/west axis. This wind direction is highly unusual for the Lake District, and so the root systems of the trees had not grown to cope with it

When I reached the knobbly summit ridge above Wren Crag I followed the undulating path along the ridge. The summit of High Rigg is at the far end of the ridge, which is about 1.5 miles long. It’s best to follow the ridge from south to north in order to keep the lovely views of Blencathra in front. The summit of High Rigg is marked by a modest cairn, and the view is impressive, especially towards Blencathra and Clough Head

From here I descended in the same direction as the ridge to reach the hause between High Rigg and Low Rigg. On reaching the hause I followed a narrow lane for a few yards, passing by tiny St John’s Church, before joining an elevated path which hugs the lower flanks of High Rigg. There are good views across St John’s in the Vale along the way

Near the end of the vale I visited the tea garden at Low Bridge End Farm (highly recommended for tea and cakes in season) and continued along the path, which rises steeply above St John’s Beck. The path rounded the foot of the fell and brought me back to the A591 to end a walk which never fails to please

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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)