After a tough walk around the Fairfield Horseshoe yesterday I felt like a much easier walk and a visit to Buttermere, which is a lovely part of the world. Unfortunately walking the Wainwrights rarely means an easy walk, the torture on my legs, straight up the Knott Rigg ascent from the Newlands Pass, wasn’t much fun. Coupled with warming sunshine left me wishing I’d stuck to the original plan of a walk around Buttermere itself. Once on the ridge the views were lovely, however I wasn’t finished making a mess of things and after a sit, just down from Ard Crags summit, I left my camera in the heather at that spot, I realised about 30 metres from Sail Beck what i’d done. Words were exchanged with myself and I turned and marched back up, collapsing at the top!!.I decided at that point to just retrace my steps back over Knott Rigg and to the car, before a drive to Buttermere and a well earned cake and ice cream!!!
| Start – Newlands Pass |
| Route – Knott Rigg – Ard Crags – almost Sail Beck – Ard Crags – Knott Rigg – Newlands Pass |
| Distance – 3 miles Start time – 10.40am Time taken – 2 1/2 hrs Highest Point – Ard Crags 581m |
| Weather – Very warm and sunny |
© Crown copyright 2014 Ordnance Survey FL 2014 SF
It says a mile and a fifth, I don’t believe it!!
The high fell is Red Pike with Starling Dodd and Great Borne to the right
Layers of fells, including Catbells with Clough Head and Great Dodd the high points in the distance
The car is down there somewhere, with the High Stile ridge now visible at the back
Nearly at Knott Rigg, looking back at the hazy High Stile ridge
Looking ahead to Ard Crags from Knott Rigg
Looking down Keskadale Gill to a hazy view
Knott Rigg summit
Lovely Newlands Valley
The bulky looking Sail and down to Scar Crags and then Causey Pike, which is behind Ard Crags summit
The colours of heather from Ard Crags summit, looking back to Knott Rigg
Ard Crags summit
Robinson from Ard Crags summit, it would have been at this point I headed down to Sail Beck, leaving my camera behind!!!!
Back on the ridge after a lung busting climb back up from Sail Beck and looking to the Newlands Valley
Looking to Buttermere in the distance with Sail Beck down on the right
Ard Crags on the left and that view of the Newlands again
Nearly back at the car
Down at Buttermere now, making hay while the sun shines
The stunning Fleetwith Pike at the far end of Buttermere
Similar view this time with more of Haystacks in view to the right
