Walk title: High Street from Haweswater
Group: Summit Good
Meet time: 8.45am
Start time: 9am
Estimated finish time: 3pm
Distance: 9.3 miles (14.97 kilometres)
Ascent: About 3070 feet (935.7 meters)
Ramblers walk grading: A (Strenuous)
Start point: Mardale Head Car Park
Postcode: CA10 2RP
Car parking: Mardale Head Car Park, which is at the western end of Haweswater Reservoir. There are various mini lay-bys within a mile of this car park. In theory this car park should be quiet but, if it’s a good weather, it could get full very quickly- and potentially full before 9am. My suggestion is to arrive at the car park – if possible – by 8.30am.
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: This walk begins rather leisurely as we partially follow the western shoreline of Haweswater Reservoir. The path taken is one that will go to Kidsty Howes – which are two crags standing like sentinels and the path goes straight through the middle – and after that steep section the slope eases as we come to Kidsty Pike, which is the first mountain of the walk.
After that it’s a quick and easy stroll to High Raise, which has amazing views of the Eden Valley, and then a similar easy stroll to Rampsgill Head- and this third “mountain” (but it is a Wainwright) looks straight down Martindale. We will then take the Roman Road to come to High Street, and again, the slopes are very gentle and the paths very easy. High Street is the highest mountain of the walk (the fourth Wainwright) and is 828 meters high.
From High Street we will come to Mardale Ill Bell, the fifth mountain of the walk. Mardale Ill Bell has immediate views of Haweswater but also Kentmere as well. Next, we come to a mountain ridge which runs from Mardale Ill Bell to Harter Fell. There are a few scrambly sections but nothing too tough. We then come to Harter Fell which will be the last mountain of the walk. To return to the car park we follow the fence for a bit until we come to Gatescarth Pass; from there it’s a simple descent back to the car park.
At Gatescarth Pass we have a choice, if we have energy and if we have time (and if the weather is clear), then we can extend the walk and continue in a north-eastwards direction to tackle two further Wainwrights: Branstree and Selside Pike. If we do these two bonus Wainwrights, then I reckon it will add another 3 to 4 miles to the walk and take roughly an hour and a half to complete- meaning we could be finishing around 4.30pm. But this is optional, and – since I have never been to Branstree and Selside Pike – I am only doing this if the weather is clear. If there is a clear weather, then it’s an opportunity to bag two very obscure Wainwrights!
Please contact Miles on 07842 783319 by 10pm on Friday 28 April if you are coming on this walk (text or phone, or message on Facebook (Miles Saunders-Priem)). This walk is suitable for dogs and few sheep are found on the mountains west of Haweswater.
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.