Meet time: 09:45 am
Start time: 10:00 am
(Estimated finish time 16:00 )
Strenuous 6 miles / 9.7 km (relentless climb and some easy scrambling)
Ascent: Approx 680m
Time: 6 hours max
Start point: Gatesgarth Farm
Nearest postcode: CA13 9XA
Car parking: Car Park just next to Gatesgarth Farm (£4 – coins only)
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 Gatesgarth Farm we walk up the Honister Pass road a few yards. Just past the farm, there are two paths that will appear on our right. The first takes you to Warnscale Bottom. We ignore that first one and take the second which immediately starts climbing up Fleetwith Edge. It is a relentless climb up to Fleetwith Pike. There are some steep sections where hands are needed to scramble up, but nothing too difficult. It should take us no more than two hours to reach the summit of Fleetwith Pike. Depending on the weather, we may stop there for lunch or a little later.
From the summit of Fleetwith Pike there are two paths: one large path on your left that eventually leads to Honister Hause (it goes along the top of Honister Crag), we ignore that large path and take the smaller single file path on our right. It will lead us to Dubs disused quarry and past Dubs Hut (a mountain bothy).
We then cross the beck and head up the path that skirts round Green Crag. Following that path, we will go past Blackbeck Tarn and Innominate Tarn. This clear path is a gradual climb up to the summit of Hay Stacks.
From the summit of Haystacks, we make our way down to Scarth Gap path. This path down at times requires hands to be used to scrambled down, but again, nothing too difficult. Once we reach the junction of paths at Scarth Gap, we take a right, following the Scarth Gap Pass down to Warnscale. Near the shore of Buttermere, we take the path going right, across the head of the lake, back to Gatesgarth Farm.
To join the walk please contact Nathalie on number removed by 10pm on Friday 22 April if you are coming on this walk (text or phone only, I am not on Facebook). 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.
We strongly advise walkers to carry hand sanitiser. Please carry a mask in your bag in case it is needed. 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.