Route: High Rigg and St John’s in the Vale
Area: Central Lake District
Date of walk: 23rd July 2015
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 5.6 miles
Ascent: 1,200 feet
Weather: Cloudy with some sunny intervals later on
High Rigg (known locally as Naddle Fell) is a beautiful little fell, one of its attractions being the long undulating ridge walk to its summit (if heading north, as I’d recommend), and the other being the return route along quiet St John’s in the Vale
I parked in one of the roadside spaces at the side of the A591 and crossed the ladder stile which leads onto the fellside. The ascent starts immediately but it’s easy going all the way, and the summit ridge is soon gained. The summit itself however is still a couple of miles away and there are countless small ups and downs before the top of the fell is reached
The weather was indifferent up to this point, but as I descended from the summit towards St John’s in the Vale Church there were signs of improvement. I walked past the small church and along a quiet lane for a short distance before taking the path towards Bridge House, set in a wonderful location
There are two paths along St John’s in the Vale – one of these hugs the flanks of High Rigg and the other follows the valley bottom alongside St John’s Beck. I opted for the latter today and wondered if I’d made the wrong choice as I had to cross three fields full of cows with calves and in one case a bull. Luckily the natives were friendly and I arrived at the other end of the valley without incident
After passing by Low Bridge End Farm (a good place for tea and cakes by the way), I rounded Wren Crag to return to the start of what had been a great walk
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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)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
Red squirrel in the garden earlier in the day
and a nuthatch with a nut - notice its tongue
Pied wagtail
On with the walk, and near the parking space by the A591 I crossed over this ladder stile
I turned left uphill here, and will return via the path on the right
Up through the bracken
Wren Crag at the start of the long summit ridge
Looking back down to the start
The summit ridge left, Skiddaw and Blencathra beyond, Clough Head right and St John’s in the Vale below
St John’s in the Vale
Further along the knobbly ridge
Looking back to Great How and Thirlmere
The ridge is best walked this way - south to north - for the views of Blencathra
Looking down into St John’s in the Vale - I’ll be returning that way later
Small tarn along the ridge
One of the many ups and downs
Looking back along to Thirlmere from the summit of High Rigg
Heading down now, with Skiddaw and Blencathra dominating the scene
I descend to the Youth Centre in the hause between High Rigg and Low Rigg
The Youth Centre, looking towards Blencathra
The little gem that is St John’s in the Vale Church, next to the Youth Centre
After walking along the lane for a short distance, I followed the sign for Bridge House
Bridge House
The start of the delightful walk back along the valley beside St John’s Beck
St John’s Beck
Looking back to Bridge House
Looking along St John’s in the Vale, with the High Rigg ridge to the right
Beautiful Sosgill Bridge
Looking north to Blencathra from the bridge
And looking south along the vale (I didn’t cross the bridge, and continued along the right hand side of St John’s Beck)
Passing by Low Bridge End Farm
Castle Rock near the end of the valley
A narrow path climbs above the beck
The path rounds the southern end of the High Rigg ridge to lead back to the start
The ladder stile shown at the beginning of the walk and there just remains a very short walk beside the A591 back to the car
