Great Borne, Starling Dodd, and Red Pike, High Stile and High Crag (The High Stile Ridge) linear walk.

Thursday 22nd June 2023

Great Borne, Starling Dodd, and Red Pike, High Stile and High Crag (The High Stile Ridge) linear walk.

Another different one for me today, I almost always do circular walks for obvious reasons, but today our aim was to bag as many Wainwrights for Robert as possible and as his dad Steve was giving this walk a miss, he offered to drop us off in Ennerdale and then pick us up later on in the day at Gatesgarth Farm in Buttermere. This allowed us to concentrate on bagging 5 Wainwrights for Robert without needing to get back to the start. Robert was keen on adding Haystacks onto the list, but although he was up to the challenge of adding another one into the walk, due to the very hot temperatures and limited water, the sensible option was to leave it for another day.

A magnificent wide ridge walk in stunning surroundings with glorious weather too - what more could you want out of a days fell walking.

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Distance: 9.7 miles

Duration: 6:00 hours

Ascent: 3245 ft

Difficulty: Hard

Accompanied By: Robert

Weather: Very Hot & Sunny

Wainwrights Visited

Great Borne High Crag High Stile Red Pike (Buttermere) Starling Dodd

3D outline of route

Parking

The happiest I've seen Steve for a long time as he quickly dropped us off at Whins (Ennerdale) and sped off to the nearest Vinyl LP shop.

With Ennerdale Water below to our right, we gradually started to gain ascent soon after leaving the roadside.

The steep face of Herdus with Great Borne slightly higher, but out of sight behind. Our route would take us to the left of the fell and then up it's northern side.

Looking back down our route in the direction of Gill Beck.

At Floutern Pass looking up at the steep climb on Steel Brow.

Robert, up for the climb as he set his sights on his first Wainwright of the day.

Views over to Hen Combe and Mellbreak, with Grasmoor the largest lump in the distance. But where is Floutern Tarn ? Has it dried up completely ? or shrunk and is out of view ? - I never did get to find out.

Great Borne summit.

Heading eastwards down from Great Borne as we view our next target - Starling Dodd straight ahead.

Ennerdale Water and Crag Fell can still be seen behind us.

What a stunning sight - Grasmoor and Rannerdale Knotts around Crummock Water (many more fells in there too). This is why I love the Lakes so much.

Starling Dodd summit.

The next down and up as we now head over to Red Pike and the start of the High Stile Ridge proper.

Standing atop of Red Pike and glancing down the rather dusty and messy path down to Bleaberry Tarn. Not for us today as we press on along the wide ridge towards High Stile.

Magnificent views from the top of High Stile. There's a few summits here and you can really choose whichever one you want, so we decided to pop to them all to make sure. This photo was taken from the Northern most spur of High Stile.

Leaving High Stile as we head round the ridge towards our final Wainwright of the day - High Crag

No holding him back now as we race to the top.

At the top of High Crag - Go easy on the water there Robert - You may need some later !

Magnificent Pillar

The start of the loose scree path down High Crag. The path gets better further down, but that is now covered with scree itself. I've noticed that a new path is forming to the south where folk are preferring to avoid the well constructed one and stick to the grass. This is exactly what we don't want, as in years to come that will just be a loose scree path too and a further blot on the side of High Crag.

The path is restored further down. There is an up and over at Seat before heading down to Scarth Gap Pass.

Walking over Seat as our thoughts turn to Haystacks.

The cross-roads at Scarth Gap Pass with the majestic Haystacks behind.

Views of Fleetwith Pike on the descent into Buttermere.

Looking back up to Haystacks - I don't think there is a more beautiful mountain in the whole of the Lake District. I never fail to admire it's stunning shape.

The last bit of descent as we look forward to an ice cream at Peggy's Bridge (Gatesgarth Farm). Plus we are dead on time - we guessed three thirty - and we arrived at exactly 3:30. All we need is for our lift to be there and waiting for us.

Another shapely beauty - Fleetwith Pike. Now to meet up with Ste at Peggy's Bridge and enjoy a cool drink and an ice cream.