Route: High Rigg
Area: Central Lake District
Date of walk: 4th March 2016
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 5.7 miles
Ascent; 1,300 feet
Weather: cloudy, some showers and some brighter spells, very windy on the tops
High Rigg is a wonderful little fell which punches well above its height on account of its rough and craggy nature, and being surrounded by higher fells it offers dramatic views in all directions
We parked in the car park at Legburthwaite and walked to the verge of the A591. This road is closed further south following Storm Desmond, when part of the road was washed away. The Lake District has been bissected as a result and the only positive thing that can be said about this is that the normally busy road was deserted as we made the short walk beside the road to the foot of High Rigg
The climb starts immediately, initially through some attractive old pine trees, until the ridge is reached. There then follows a long walk along the knobbly spine of the fells with innumerable ups and downs until the summit is finally attained
When we reached the summit there was an improvement in the weather and the views towards Blencathra were glorious. We descended to St John’s Church and followed the higher of the two paths along St John’s in the Vale, in order to avoid the detritus left by the recent awful storms when this lovely valley was completely flooded
Despite evidence of the floods, the scenery was superb. This is one of our favourite walks and one which I’d happily repeat tomorrow
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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Yellowhammer in the garden before we set off this morning
Start of the walk as we leave the car park at Legburthwaite to walk towards the A591
We walk beside the deserted road for 50 yards or so, and then cross over the ladder stile at the foot of High Rigg
The climb starts immediately - we fork off to the left and will return via the path on the right
We climb towards Wren Crag, which is studded with old pine trees
Looking down towards Legburthwaite
Thirlmere
The impressive crags of Great Dodd and Clough Head are to the right as we continue to climb up to the ridge
Castle Rock at the foot of Watson’s Dodd
Looking back along the A591, which is closed further along as a result of flood damage
…and again from higher up
Our first view of St John’s in the Vale and Blencathra as we gain the ridge
Blease Fell as we look along the ridge
The buttresses of Blencathra and the foot of Clough Head…
Looking across St John’s in the Vale
Bonnie climbs a ladder stile…
Dry stone walls along the ridge…
A wonderful view of Blencathra from the summit of High Rigg
L to R - Blease Fell, Gategill Fell, Hall’s Fell and Doddick Fell
Looking back to Thirlmere
That view again
We descend to St John’s Church below
St John’s Church
Start of the return journey along St John’s in the Vale via the eastern flank of High Rigg
Bridge House - there is an alternative lower valley path but we decided to stay on higher ground
Some photos of an enchanting walk along St John’s in the Vale…
At the end of the vale we climb steeply above St John’s Beck and just beyond here we meet up with our earlier ascent path
Back to the start of a wonderful walk
