Recommended Ordnance Survey Maps - Outdoor Leisure Map 7 - South Eastern Area (1:25,000) and Outdoor Leisure Map 5 - North Eastern Area (1:25,000)
Start and End Point - Main Ambleside Car Park, Ambleside. Pay and Display cost £3.10 for 8 hours.
Distance - approx. 10.5 miles (17 kilometres)
Time - 6 hours
Maximum Height Achieved - 2864 feet, 873 metres above sea level
Total Ascent - 3376 feet, 1029 metres
Accommodation - There are many hotels and B&B's in Ambleside of varying quality. Advance booking is strongly recommended. There is a youth hostel at Ambleside. See Accommodation Guide
Public Transport -
By Rail - Stations at Windermere and Penrith
By Bus - Regular services from Windermere and Keswick
Tourist Information Office - To be provided
The description and pictures are from March 9th 1997. The day was dry but a low cloud rolled in from the west early in the morning.
The conditions on the day changed remarkably. The low cloud early on prevented any worthwhile photographs, but as the height was gained, the clouds resembled a cotton wool ocean gently lapping against the fells below. Spectacular! As the afternoon approached, a gentle breeze indicated change as higher clouds far in the distance pushed the low clouds over the ridges as food for the strong sun. The conditions on the tops were wonderful. Winter not yet over but walkers packed away their woolies on this almost summer like day.
The Fairfield Horseshoe walk is a classic with spectacular views. Wainwright classed this walk as his favourite. Not technically demanding, it is never the less a walk that is irresistible for its outstanding beauty.
The walk was done anticlockwise, starting and finishing in Ambleside's main car park at the northern side of this popular lakeland town. The large car park is rather expensive but is recommended as there is little alternative parking. There are good toilet facilities on the car park as well as nearby shops for everything from chocolate to the latest walking boots.
Walking anticlockwise, the descent is capped nicely with a wander past Rydal Mount - Wordsworth's home, and now a visitors centre. Just where did he get his inspiration?
The terrain from Dove Crag to Fairfield could become confusing in misty conditions and care therefore would need to be taken. Allow time to soak in the views. Panoramic views accompany almost every step of this walk, with the views from Dove Pike and Fairfield being particularly worthy of note.
Enjoy!
P.S. All photographs are point and click. Click on them for a larger, more detailed image.
Map
The car park that is recommended for this walk is the most northerly
in Ambleside on the way to Rydal and is clearly marked on the
accompanying map. Leave the car park
via the wooden footbridge and cross the main road heading into
Kirkstone Road. The first turning on the left is Nook Lane, a
lovely single track lane that rises and meanders towards its conclusion
at Nook End Farm. Head through the farm and on to Low Sweden Bridge.
Progress up the hill along the well marked but windy track heading
North East. Beyond the first gate, the path veers left
then right through Low Sweden Coppice towards yet another gate
(although neither were attached to the wall on this occasion).
Carry on until you reach the third gate just before High Sweden
Coppice.
Photo. The gateway to High Sweden Coppice
provides a choice. There is the main path that meanders at a low
level to the Low Brock Crags and High Brock Crags which is suitable
for all levels of walker. If you feel in the mood for an interesting
little scramble, then bear left towards the wall and follow the
lesser path towards Sweden Crag.The path hugs
the wall from here all the way to Hart Crag. At Sweden
Crag, a tricky scramble (hands required) faces you. It is no bigger
than 15 feet and there are a variety of ways up. The best, in
my opinion, is close to the wall, where a vertical scramble of
approximately 10 feet is the bounty. It matters not which path
you take. Within a kilometre, both paths meet at High Brock Crags.
Follow the wall (north north west) for ¾ kilometre and Low Pike is bagged at 508 metres (1667 feet). From here, continue heading north for 1 kilometre and at 656 metres (2152 feet) High Pike is achieved. The distance travelled by now is 4.5 kilometres. Carry on heading north. If you are left of the wall, pass through the gateway of the wall and continue heading north to Dove Crag, 792 metres (2598 feet). The views all the way are superb, but I like to wander off the path (east) to take in the views from Dove Crag.
Photo. Fairfield lies in the distance beyond Hart Crag. The low cloud gently laps the 'shores' of Fairfield. The waterfall in the valley provided an eerie music creating a surreal atmosphere.
Head north west for one kilometre to Hart Crag at 822 metres
(2697 feet). Keeping on the same bearing, Fairfield and its majestic
views await. At 873 metres (2864 feet), this is the highest fell
on the walk. Fairfield on a sunny day is hard to beat. The views
are very difficult to beat anywhere. It is well worth taking time
out on Fairfield for a wander around the summit plateau.
Photo. Cofa Pike and St Sunday Crag
stand majestically between Fairfield and Patterdale. It was on
these particular mountains in 1995 that I saw the famous Brocken
Spectre (a rainbow halo caused by sunshine through mist).
Photo. Grisedale Tarn below separates Fairfield from Dollywagon Pike. In the distance stands the wonderful Striding Edge and Helvellyn .
Photo. The low cloud is chased out
of the valley below Great Rigg as the descent of Fairfield begins.
From Fairfield, head south south west down the path for
almost 1½ kilometres to Great Rigg standing at 766 metres
(2513 feet). The views in all directions are excellent. Just after
Great Rigg, the path divides. Bear left (south) and on
Rydal Fell at 614 metres (2014 feet).
Photo. On the descent, it is recommended to look back quite often. The Fairfield panorama is a truly wonderful view. Beyond Erne Crag at 621 metres (2037 feet) is Heron Pike at 612 metres (2008 feet). The descent stars in earnest here. Again bear left when given the choice of two paths at Lord Cove (south east). The path down Nab Scar is fairly steep, tough on the knees and feet, but well marked. Steps have been made here in places, and occasional wooden rails encourage you to prevent erosion by keeping to the path. Go through the stile and down the single track to Rydal Mount. Wordsworth certainly picked a lovely area to set up home. The A591 Ambleside to Rydal road can be seen down in the distance. A choice of paths present themselves to conclude the journey. Either head down to the A591 and turn left heading to Ambleside, or choose my preference which is through Rydal Park. From Rydal Mount, travel no more than 50 metres and turn left into Rydal Hall. A tea shop can be found next to the picturesque stream. Head over the bridge and on through Rydal Park. Exactly 1½ kilometres on from Rydal Hall, the A591 is reached. Turn left and head back towards Ambleside. The car park can be found on the right concluding the walk in a distance just short of 17 kilometres (10½ miles).
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Author - Antony Towers - 29th March 1997. I hope you enjoy this walk either virtually or in reality as much as I did. However, do not blame me if you get lost or have an accident. Your safety is your responsibility. Always use a map, compass and be equipped for the conditions. Conditions can change very quickly, especially at altitude. Check the weather conditions before setting off and always be prepared for mother nature.
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