Meet time: 9.15am
Start time: 9.30am
Estimated finish time: 4:00pm to 4:30pm
Distance: 11.5 – 11.8 miles (18.5 – 18.9 kilometres)
Ascent: About 3500 feet (1067 meters)
Ramblers walk grading: A (Strenuous)
Start point: THE BRIDGE HOTEL, BUTTERMERE (meet at rear of hotel).
Postcode: CA13 9UZ
Car parking: There is a national trust car park and also laybys within 0.5 miles of the start location.
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.
Summits: Red Pike, High Stile, High Crag & Haystacks
Please be aware I’m staying in the Buttermere valley Friday 22nd, Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th and there isn’t any mobile phone reception. So if you do wish to come on this walk either contact me on 07815 869084 by 8pm on Thursday 21st March or I can also use the wifi at the accommodation to pick up WhatsApp or Facebook (Jahaan Caine) messages until 8pm on Friday 22nd March.
Description: On leaving the hotel we head towards Buttermere to meet the bottom of Sourmilk Gill to ascend the path to Bleaberry Tarn, from there we carry on to Dodd where this gives one of the best vantage points of the Buttermere valley. We then follow The Saddle footpath to the summit of Red Pike. We then follow one of the most picturesque ridge walks in the Lake District from Red Pike to High Stile and High Crag, whilst on the ridge you have the Buttermere Valley on one side and the Ennerdale Valley on the other.
One reaching High Crag we descend sharply down the steep footpath of Gamlin End to meet the small hill of Seat, we then cross over Scarth Gap Pass to ascend the rocky hills of Hay Stacks and its many false summits. We then follow the footpath path past the famous Innominate Tarn and the less famous Blackbeck Tarn.
We then start to descend down the footpath of Warnscale Beck and pass one of the most photographed locations in the Lake District from Warnscale Bothy before carrying on to Warnscale Bottom and following the path back to the Bridge Inn hotel.
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.
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.