Difficulty: Moderate
Wainwright Guide: Book Seven – The Western Fells
Fells: High Crag, High Stile, Red Pike
High Stile Ridge encompasses the fells lining the South-Western shore of Buttermere. It is named after the fell with the highest summit, reaching 2,648 feet, yet it also encompasses Red Pike to the North and High Crag to the South.
As usual you should come prepared for all weather conditions to tackle this hike. Make sure you are wearing sensible footwear and have enough supplies for the day! I would also take something to keep your ears warm, because the wind up on this ridge can be particularly bitter.
Navigation wise I used a combination of my Wainwright Guidebook and an OS Map, though the route is pretty self explanatory!
Where to start?
We started off at the Fish Inn in Buttermere and headed towards the lake. The path quickly splits into two. You want to take the right hand path that’s signposted as heading towards Scale Force. You eventually come to a bridge to cross the stream and a T junction. Again you need to go right towards Crummock Water.
Follow the path until you come just level with Crummock Water. You will have crossed two little wooden bridges already.
After the second bridge turn left and follow the stream up. The path here isn’t the most visible but it will become more obvious as you ascend.
This will then take you up through a field of boulders where the path again becomes hard to keep track of, however it is easy enough to reconnect with it when you need to. This will eventually bring you to a gate where if you look back you will get a beautiful view of Crummock and the North-Western fells.
Scale Force
Just past this gate is Scale Force waterfall, the tallest waterfall in Lakeland. It’s worth spending a bit of time here and admiring the waterfall before you continue the ascent up to Red Pike.
As you go through the gate there is steep path to the left which is the route you need to take to continue your hike. Again the path is pretty easy to follow. The waterfall and beck will be on your right-hand side as you emerge out of the treeline and into an expanse of heather.
Red Pike
Eventually the path will deviate the left and you will emerge out of the heather to get your first glimpse of the summit, although it will still look a long way off!
As you follow the path it will take you through a very strong wind tunnel on the very edge of the ridge that faces down towards the Buttermere valley. This is where you need to take your time (and take out your ear warmers!) as the force of the wind here is just incredible.
Battling through the elements will eventually bring you out towards the summit. It is a great grassy expanse strewn with boulders but marked with a large cairn. The view from here is absolutely spectacular and is arguably one of the finest around. On a clear day you can even see the Isle of Man! It sets a precedent for what to expect on the rest of the ridge.
High Stile
Following on from here you can either head down towards Bleaberry Tarn for a spot of lunch, or go straight towards High Stile. There is not much in the way of descent and ascent between these two summits, but the continual views of the valley and the tarn below are fantastic.
The summit of High Stile itself is often controversial. There are two large summit cairns, one further North than the other. This is the one that marks the actual summit, although the other only lies 3ft below. Both provide beautiful views of the surrounding area and should be acknowledged during your hike.
High Crag
On toward High Crag, the final summit of the ridge and you are faced with a decent descent and ascent before you achieve your goal. Part way through this final ascent we stopped and sat under some boulders and looked back along the Buttermere Valley while eating lunch. Everywhere on the ridge the panoramas are diffierent but equally spectacular!
The summit of High Crag itself is marked by an obvious cairn at the top of a triangular point. From this summit you get glorious views into the Ennerdale valley, across towards Pillar and to Ennerdale Water. High Stile blocks your view into the Buttermere Valley.
Descent
The descent from the ridge can be tricky. The path takes you via Gamlin End towards Scarth Gap. The path zig zags steeply down the mountain and the loose stones underfoot can make it a bit wobbly. If you pause to look at the view ahead you will be able to look upon Haystacks, Grey Knotts, Brandreth and the Gables to name a few. Breathtaking.
Other options…
Down in Scarth Gap you have a choice, depending on time and how energetic you feel. We chose to carry on our hike over Haystacks and on to Fleetwith Pike to make a large circle. If you only set out to do the ridge then the best route is turning left towards Buttermere. This route will take you down through heather to the corner of the lake.
Keeping the lake on your right you can walk all the way back to the Fish Inn for a well deserved meal and a pint!
The High Stile Ridge route is one of the most rewarding in all the Lake District. It has arguably some of the most wonderful views on offer and there is the scope to add on other fells and adapt the route however you would like to. An absolutely brilliant hike.
Have you tackled High Stile Ridge yet? I would love to see your photos and hear your favourite routes! Tell me in the comments below.
