High Stile Ridge
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- Rough and popular ridge
- Views down both Buttermere & Ennerdale
- Pleasant lakeside finish
The long high ridge of Red Pike, High Stile and High Crag separating Buttermere and the less popular Ennerdale looks almost impossible to penetrate for the walker. A direct assault from Buttermere offers a mix of scree and heather clinging to the steep sides which in turn cast a long shadow over the valley floor (in autumn and winter Buttermere does become dark and often cold from an early hour). Myself Paul, Pete and Wayne tackled the direct route up Red Pike on a ‘typical’ English summer’s day passing the classical glaciated corrie of Bleaberry Tarn on route. The climb is almost unremittingly steep for 2150′, however the Fix the Fells team have been hard at work and created an easier and more pleasant route at least on to the tarn and the Saddle but the final few hundred feet can be torturous. The ridge itself is typical of the west fells, being rough and largely pathless. In the mist it is possible to become a little confused near the summits and ending up with surprising views of the Ennerdale Forest (he says from bitter experience). The decent is again steep all the way to the col with Haystacks seen to great effect and it is only the final walk along the lake where you can afford to walk without full concentration on where to put your feet!
Recommend: There is no better example of the work done by ‘Fix the Fells’ than the steep slopes of High Stile. More information here.
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| OS Map: | O/S 1.25,000. OL4 The English Lakes North West. Buy Map |
| Start Point: | NY 178170. Buttermere. Most people park on the steep road leading to Keswick via Newlands. |
| Height to Climb: | 752ms (2,467 feet) |
| Terrain: | The path can be indistinct on the rough ridge, however the tracks up and down are very clear if badly eroded |
| Eating & Drinking: | Buttermere has two old inns, the Fish Inn & the Bridge Hotel and a tea shop.They may not like dogs but aside from this they are very good. |
| Similar Walks Nearby: | Mellbreak & the shores of Crummock Water Haystacks – Wainwright’s favourite The Newlands Round |
| Places to Stay: | Scale Hill Cottages, Buttermere |
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This walk was a reminder for me of just how great the hill walks in the lakes are. A good stretch of the legs on a classic loop, with some spectacular views from the ridge, which were in some ways all the better for being occasionally revealed by gaps in the clouds. The pint in the pub by the car park at the end was most welcome!