Recommended Ordnance Survey Maps - Outdoor Leisure Map 5 – North Eastern Area (1:25,000)
Start and End Point – Cow Bridge Car Park, A592, Hartsop (NY 403134)
Distance – 11.184 miles (18.0 kilometres) not including gradient.
Distance including gradient – 12.468 miles (20.07 kilometres
Time - 6 hours
Maximum Height Achieved - 2717 feet, 828 metres above sea level
Total Ascent - 3389 feet, 1033 metres
Accommodation – Sykeside Campsite at Brothers Water. Hotels in Patterdale and Glenridding.
High Street! Not exactly an inspiring name, as far as walking in the Lake District goes. There are no shops, no cash machines and no pub. Having said that though, there are no speed cameras, nor parking meters! The name dates back to the time that this was in fact, part of a Roman road which linked forts at Penrith and Ambleside. The ancient route stays high, over the hills rather than the lower, boggy ground which would have been prevalent in those times. The summit of High Street, known as Racecourse Hill, used to be a traditional meeting point for Shepherds, with a fair being held there until 1835.
This route is superb when visibility is good. The views of the surrounding hills and valleys are breathtaking. It bestows panoramas over Ullswater, Brothers Water, Windermere, Angle Tarn, Hayeswater, Blea Water and Haweswater Reservoir. Quite a few lakes and reservoirs you’ll agree. Add to that some glorious valley vistas as well as the peaks of Helvellyn, Fairfield, St Sunday Crag to name but a few. At Thornthwaite Crag, you’ll find one of the largest summit cairns in the lakes that is well worth seeing. Altogether, this really is a stunning walk and highly recommended. It is quite a long walk, and you’ll certainly relish the change of footwear once the hike is over! The descent from Thornthwaite Crag can be arduous to those who do not like descending on scree paths and the ascent of Stony Cove Pike may need the use of hands – but it really is nothing too demanding.
A nice feature of this route is that there are a couple of opportunities to change your plans if the need arises (due to weather, tiredness etc). There is a quick route down just before ‘The Knott’. This takes you down to the northerly point of Hayeswater and then back to Hartsop via Hayeswater Gill. Another variation, if the descent of Thornthwaite Crag was enough and the climb up to Stony Cove Pike looks too strenuous, is at Threshthwaite Mouth. This takes the leisurely route back to Hartsop via Pasture Bottom.
Tip: Click on the photographs for a larger, more detailed image. They are all size 1600 by 1200 and are ideal for computer desktop wallpaper.
Cow Bridge Car Park is situated just off the A592 (Kirkstone Pass) north of Brothers Water. Start the walk by turning right out of the car park, walking along the A592 towards Hartsop. Turn left towards the hamlet of Hartsop itself (signed on the A592 ‘Hartsop’). Here you see a house on the corner. Straight after the house turn left, go through the gate into a track called Cross Gate. This is a metalled path, suitable for vehicles, that leads through to a log cabin complex. (Alternatively, if you wish to explore the sleepy hamlet of Hartsop, there is an upper path at the top of the village, that joins up with the lower path at Angle Tarn Beck.) Carry on along Cross Gate, past the log cabin complex and into Angle Tarn Beck. Here you cross the stream via a wooden footbridge and join up with the path from upper Hartsop.
From the footbridge, keep heading north along the bridleway and past Dubhow. In approximately 600 metres, the path splits two ways. Take the upper path to your right, heading due north. Quite quickly the path narrows, becomes a little rougher and starts to gain height steadily. This path affords good views over Ullswater and Patterdale. Way down below, to your left and across the A592, is the entrance to the valley of Deepdale, flanked by St Sunday Crag and Hartsop above How, with Fairfield and Hart Crag at its head.
Keep onwards and upwards, ignoring the path down to Crookabeck. The path starts to turn to the right (east), across Stonebarrow Gill and up to a plateau, and a multitude of paths at Boredale Hause. Take the path to the far right (pictured above). You are now on the main path that takes you all the way to High Street. There’s plenty still to do though, before you get there! The path starts to climb (south, south-east), with Rake Crag on your right and the large expanse of moorland on your left before being quickly flanked on both sides between Stony Rigg and Dubhow Crag. Keep to the path and as you round Angletarn Pikes on your left, Angle Tarn comes immediately into view.
From Angle Tarn, keep along the gentle path (south-east) under Buck Crag and Satura Crag. Stay left at Satura Crag, where there is a choice of paths and take the lesser footpath. This stays higher and gives spectacular views over the Martindale valley, rather than Hayeswater. Both paths rejoin again before The Knott.(If you decide to call it a day at this point, there is a main right-of-way down to the neck of Hayeswater, which takes you along Hayeswater Gill to Hartsop.)
The main path takes you right around The Knott without actually bagging it. However, once past the wall, leave the path and turn right (south-east) and head sharply upwards, keeping the wall on your right side. After the short sharp climb of 150 metres, you are now at the summit of The Knott.
From The Knott, head down the hill and rejoin the main right-of-way (south) towards High Street. You are now walking along the Straits of Riggindale, the dominating backdrop of Hayeswater. After 400 metres, a path joins on the left from High Raise. At this point, you are on the High Street Roman Road. I prefer to stray off the main right-of-way and stick to the path close to the ridge (clearly seen on the photographs). From this path, you enjoy stunning views of Haweswater Reservoir, with Kidsty Pike on your left and Riggindale Crag on your right.
It’s now just a gentle walk up Racecourse Hill to the summit of High Street.
From the vast expanse of summit that is High Street, follow the Roman Road alongside the wall. Avoid path to your left that heads towards Mardale Ill Bell. Simply keep following the wall. On a good day, you will clearly see the unmistakable summit of Thornthwaite Crag, with its extravagant summit cairn – Thornthwaite Beacon. The wall eventually ends and our path to Thornthwaite Crag follows the upper outline of Hayeswater Gill.
From Thornthwaite Crag and its spectacular Beacon, the going gets a little more serious. The trek down towards Threshthwaite Mouth is strenuous. There are those who like scree paths, who will relish the descent and those who find it more difficult and tread very, very gingerly. It is a scree path, but it is well trodden and relatively solid underfoot, for the most. Once down, Threshthwaite Mouth is a little more sheltered and offers a good stopover point for refreshments, as well as great views to Windermere, in the distance.
Threshthwaite Mouth offers two different routes down to Cow Bridge. The easier route takes you straight down from here, under Threshthwaite cove and along Pasture Bottom. You then cross Pasture Beck, across the bridge and into Hartsop.
The route preferred in this walk is upwards over Threshthwaite Crag to Stony Cove Pike. You’ll see whether or not you fancy this route straight away at Threshthwaite Mouth. The ascent up the Crag is not the easiest. You will use your hands in a couple of places and it is steep, although short. For me though, it is well worth it, and certainly adds depth to the walk. Make your way up Threshthwaite Crag, taking care when needed and you arrive at Stony Cove Pike Summit.
From the summit at Stony Cove Pike, keep to the wall heading west. Caudale Moor is an open expanse of moorland and has a small but picturesque tarn. Join the path that heads north-west towards Rough Edge. Caudale Head is on your right and offers a steep drop down towards Caudale Beck. The path along Rough Edge, down Caudale Beck is excellent. Somehow you get the feeling that there is bound to be a steep scree path over the brow – but it never materialises. In fact, the name Rough Edge is a misnomer. The path down is steep, but safe and secure. Past the disused mine, low on your right, the path becomes more prominent. There are several choices of path on occasions (all leading back to each other). Eventually you reach the stream at Caudale Beck. Stay left of the stream keeping the wall on your left.
Cross the stile to the A592, turn left, cross the road and take the path down to Caudale Beck Farm. Keep to the right-of-way, crossing the stream and heading through the field (north) to Sykeside Campsite. At the rear entrance of Sykeside, turn left (west) along the wide path, over the stream and on towards Hartsop Hall. Go around the Hall, keeping right, and take the path to the right at the ‘T’ junction. This path takes you right back to Cow Bridge Car Park, but first skirts the westerly shore of Brothers Water. At the end of Brothers Water, cross the stile, and you are back at the Car Park.
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Author - Antony Towers – 12th June 2004. I hope you enjoy this walk either virtually or in reality as much as I did. Your safety is your responsibility. Always use a map, compass and be equipped for the conditions. Conditions can change very quickly, even at low levels. Check the weather conditions before setting off and always be prepared for Mother Nature.
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