Meet time: 09:15 am
Start time: 09:30 am
(Estimated finish time 17:30)
Grading: Strenuous 11.7 miles / 18.8 km
Ascent: Approx. 1,040m
Start point: Car park at the eastern end of the village of Hartsop (right at the end of the road). Grid reference for start point is NY 410 129.
Postcode: CA11 0NZ
Car parking: There is plenty of car parking available at the car park at Hartsop Village and more is available at Cow Bridge. It is however the start of the half term and the car parks are expected to be busy, so please arrive early. I do not get signal at the start point so won’t know if you are running late or unable to find a parking spot.
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: A lovely spring walk from Hartsop around all the fells above Deepdale valley, also know as the Deepdale Horseshoe. The views from Fairfield are easily among the best in the Lake District and the final Wainwright of the day at Arnison Crag looks out onto Ullswater. This will be my final walk to complete all 214 of the Wainwrights, with Arnison Crag being my final Wainwright.
This walk will start at the car park where just over a year ago me and Gem met many of you. That walk lead to me becoming part of the group and completing the Wainwrights. Join me on this final walk to bag my final Wainwrights and enjoy the lovely views from the fells around Deepdale.
From Hartsop we follow the path to Cow’s Bridge and then immediately enter Low Wood and begin our ascent to Hartsop above How. This ascent is quite steep but once we have reached the ridgeline we will be able to see the Deepdale valley. The path on the ridgeline is obvious and we will follow it over Bleaberry Knott and Gale Crag before reaching our first Wainwright of the day, Hartsop above How (581m). After Hartsop above How we continue along the ridge to Blake Brow and then onto Hart Crag.
The ascent to Hart Crag (822m) is over rocky slopes but once we summit we will be at our second Wainwright of the day. The highest point is on the southern end of Hart Crag and from here we will then head north-west towards Scrubby Crag. We now make our way to Fairfield (873m) and from here, if the weather is good and in my subjective opinion, we will have some of the best panoramic views in the Lake District. Looking north you will be able to see the mountains leading up to Helvellyn. To the west Grisedale Tarn and to the south Grasmere, Windermere, Coniston Water and the Irish Sea.
From Fairfield we now go to Cofa Pike and then onto the Deepdale Hause. Following the ridgeline we reach St Sunday Crag (841m), our fourth Wainwright of the day. The descent from St Sunday Crag goes to a boggy col at the head of Blind Cove but we then we reach our penultimate Wainwright, Birks (622m). From here we continue for 200m before descending east to Trough Head and picking up the path to Arnison Crag.
Arnison Crag (433m) is the very first Wainwright covered by Alfred Wainwright in his ‘love-letter’ to the Lakeland hills and mountains, and will be my last Wainwright. Being the first fell covered by Mr Wainwright it has some glowing reviews by the author such as having a ‘view that is very restricted’ and ‘not… the best viewpoint for Ullswater by any means’, so I am sure you would agree that it will be the perfect place to end my Wainwrights on.
Once we descend from Arnison Crag into Patterdale we then cross the road to Rooking Cottage and head south to Cross Gate and back to the start point.
Please contact Jack on 07517 765959 by 9pm on Friday 26th May if you are coming on this walk.
Please check the weather and bring appropriate clothing (waterproofs and spare warm clothing as the weather can change quickly), 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.