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Walk up High Street from Patterdale and Glenridding

By Dave Chick   

on May 4, 2018    5/5 (1)

Posted as a walk in – England, Europe, Lake District National Park, Lake District's Far Eastern Fells

Walk up High Street from Patterdale and Glenridding

Route Essentials

Route Summary

A long, rewarding journey along High Street’s northern ridge

See the end of the article for local information about parking, public transport facilities, pubs and cafes.

Distance

8.89 km

Ascent

825 m

Time

2 hours

Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Start Location

Patterdale Village - High Street summit

Difficulty

Hard Walk

Hazards

The summit area of High Street can pose navigational challenges in the mist due to its flatness other than that there are no specific hazards other than the length of the walk in and out – good paths are evident throughout. Some marshy areas are to be expected around Angle Tarn and good navigation will be required at Boredale Hause if the clouds are low.

Weather Forecast:

Met Office Lake Distrct Mountain Weather

Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?
Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need. 

Walk up High Street from Patterdale and Glenridding Ordnance Survey Map and GPX File Download

View the full route map

Download file for GPS

Walk up High Street from Patterdale and Glenridding

Patterdale is perhaps the most common starting point for people climbing High Street as it’s the most populated valley in the vicinity and the easiest to get to by car or public transport. While many opt for Helvellyn, you can seek some quieter walking in the fells to the east of the valley.

There are some fantastic views on this walk which traverses the extensive north ridge of High Street, crossing the heads of a number of remote, glacial valleys.

High Street from Patterdale Route Description

1 – From the car park in Patterdale, take a right onto the A592 (heading northwest) and follow it a short distance to Patterdale C of E School. Pass the school and keep an eye out for a signpost directing you to Side Farm. The track to the farm passes down the left side of the George Starkey Hut, a stone cottage set back from the road. The name is etched into a slate plinth above the door. If you reach the church on the A592, you’ve gone too far.

Walk up High Street from Patterdale and Glenridding2 – Follow the farm track across Goldrill Beck to Side Farm. Pass through the yard of the farm (where a tea stop can be taken) and through a gate before turning left and then almost immediately right onto a path which follows a drystone wall up above the farm. This short path joins to an extensive bridleway which links Hartsop in the south to Sandwick in Martindale.

Walk up High Street from Patterdale and Glenridding3 – After joining the bridleway, follow it in a south-easterly direction as it starts the climb the fellside. Bear to the left of a stand of trees and begin climbing to reach the 400m high Boredale Hause, an important meeting place for paths crossing between Patterdale and Martindale. You can find the remains of a chapel here, hence why the OS map is marked ‘Chapel in the Hause’.

Walk up High Street from Patterdale and Glenridding
The path passing to the left of the stand of trees – it can be seen climbing towards the horizon to the left of the photo

4 – From the hause, follow the path south-southeast along Stonebarrow Gill, climbing gradually alongside the shallow valley. The path rounds the head of Dubhow Beck, below Stony Rigg, where you can leave it to climb Angletarn Pikes, a rocky outcrop consisting of two almost identical peaks. The South Top (just 2m lower than the main summit) provides a fine view of Angle Tarn and the route ahead.

Walk up High Street from Patterdale and Glenridding5 – From Angletarn Pikes, you can follow a feint path to the right of the tarn, through a wall next to the outflow from the tarn and over Cat Crag to reach the summit of Brock Crags. The path the left of the tarn heads to the rim of Bannerdale and Buck Crag. Both paths meet again at Satura Crag below the western slopes of Rest Dodd.

Walk up High Street from Patterdale and Glenridding6 – Again, Rest Dodd is an objective but adds an additional 100m of ascent and descent, otherwise keep to the main path as it follows the line of a drystone wall. In the valley below is Hayeswater, a natural lake that was once a reservoir – the water company removed the dam in 2014. The path leaves the wall as it starts to climb The Knott.

Walk up High Street from Patterdale and Glenridding7 – Before reaching The Knott’s summit, the path joins a bridleway rising from the valley below and makes a slightly circuitous route up the north side of the fell. Reaching the summit does require the briefest of diversions but it would be rude not to pay a visit. This area of high ground is also home to Rampsgill Head and Kidsty Pike – both are worthy objectives considering their close proximity.

Walk up High Street from Patterdale and Glenridding8 – The bridleway joins the Roman Road at the Straits of Riggindale, a narrowing of High Street’s north ridge. Don’t be alarmed though, the narrowest point of this ridge is still fairly wide and a wall runs across the top. The views down into Riggindale are excellent. From the Straits of Riggindale it’s an easy climb of around a mile to High Street’s summit – following the drystone wall. If you remain on the Roman Road, this will pass below and to the west of the summit so a diversion will be required.

Walk up High Street from Patterdale and Glenridding9- From the summit you can retrace your route back to Patterdale or continue around the Hayeswater valley, descending down Gray Crag to complete a long, rewarding circuit.

Local Information and Recommended Maps and Guidebooks

Route Summary:

A long, rewarding journey along High Street’s northern ridge

This walk includes the 4 Wainwrights of Angletarn Pikes (Angletarn Pikes North Top), High Street, The Knott (High Street), Rest Dodd

This walk includes the 2 Hewitts of High Street, Rest Dodd

This walk includes the 2 Nuttalls of High Street, Rest Dodd

Route Start Location: Patterdale Village - High Street summit

Distance
 Ascent
 Time
8.89 km 825 m 2 hours

Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Activivity Type: Hard Walk

Summits and Places on this Route

Facilities

The Patterdale Hotel, The White Lion Inn,  Patterdale Village Store and Post Office and the Patterdale YHA all near the start of this walk.

Hazards

The summit area of High Street can pose navigational challenges in the mist due to its flatness other than that there are no specific hazards other than the length of the walk in and out – good paths are evident throughout. Some marshy areas are to be expected around Angle Tarn and good navigation will be required at Boredale Hause if the clouds are low.

Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need.

Parking : CA11 0NN

Pay & Display car park close to the Patterdale Hotel. Alternative free parking can be found at Brother’s Water.

Public Transport:

Stagecoach 508 Bus – Penrith to Windermere and Stagecoach 208 Bus – Keswick to Patterdale (Seasonal March – October)

Traveline for UK Public Transport

Weather Forecast:

Met Office Lake Distrct Mountain Weather

Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?

Recommended Maps: 

Guidebooks:

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Dave Chick

Dave is our Lake District local expert, often found in the depths of Cumbria he’s the author of his own part on the web, All the Gear but no Idea.

More Posts by Dave Chick

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