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 |

The bulky looking Sail and down to Scar Crags and then Causey Pike, which is behind 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!!!!