Meet time: 9.15am
Start time: 9.30am
Estimated finish time: 4pm to 4.30pm
Distance: 10.6 miles (17.06 kilometres)
Ascent: About 3,170 feet (966 meters)
Ramblers walk grading: A (Strenuous)
Start point: Grasmere Village Green (this is next to the intersection of roads, there is the main road Broadgate which runs through the centre of the village, on the intersection there is the start of the Easedale Road and the start of College Street. Next to this intersection is Mathilde’s Café and, on the other side, Sam Read Bookseller plus Lucia’s Coffee + Bakehouse).
Postcode: LA22 9SX (Mathilde’s Café- the Village Green is on the opposite side of the road)
Car parking: There is the Stock Lane Car Park around the public toilets in south-east Grasmere, in southern Grasmere there is a smaller car park (Red Bank Road Car Park), and finally, along the Grasmere section of the A591, there are various lay-bys with free parking.
It is the responsibility of each walker to make sure they understand where to park. If you are not sure where the car parking/meeting point is, you must contact the walk leader at the latest the day before the walk. You should not rely on mobile phones or postcodes. There is often no mobile reception near walk meeting points and postcodes are for the nearest place nearby but should only serve as a guideline. Please allow plenty of time to find a parking space so that walks can start promptly.
Description: From the Village Green we leave Grasmere and go up the A591 northwards, there is a pavement, so we don’t have to worry about walking on the road. We will soon come to Mill Bridge, a small collection of houses, and take the wide path leading to Grisedale Tarn. This path goes up Tongue Gill until it comes to Grisedale Tarn itself.
From the tarn we go up the steep western path to the summit of Fairfield. This is the highest mountain of the walk coming in at 873 metres. There are amazing views all around from Fairfield. For the next stage of the walk we will follow the long southern ridge of Fairfield and gradually descend. The path will take us to Great Rigg, Heron Pike and Nab Scar. This is a beautiful ridge with some of the best views of the southern Lake District.
At Nab Scar, the last mountain of the walk, we then steeply descend to reach the village of Rydal. At this point the walk becomes very pleasant and easy-going as we pass Rydal Water. We will cross the river connecting the lake of Grasmere to Rydal Water and, having briefly crossed the A591, take some paths through the woods to reach Town End (which is virtually south Grasmere), and then take the B5287 (a road with pavements) to enter Grasmere and return to the Village Green.
Please contact Miles on 07842 783319 by 10pm on Friday 10 March if you are coming on this walk (text or phone, or message on Facebook (Miles Saunders-Priem)). This walk is suitable for dogs but please make sure you keep your dog under control.
Please check the weather and bring appropriate clothing (waterproofs and spare warm clothing), footwear and enough food and water. The leader reserves the right to turn away any walker not suitably equipped. The leader may cancel the walk or modify the route dependent on conditions.
Car sharing is now possible – please contact the walk leader to arrange.
New members: please note the walk leader may ask for more information about your walking experience. This is to ensure you have the fitness required to complete the walk that is planned safely.