Follow two long and interesting ridges in a climb over Dove Crag and Red Screes from Ambleside. It provides a good alternative to the more popular Fairfield Round. The crossing at Scandale Hause is full of interest.
For those who have already completed the full Fairfield Horseshoe this walk offers a good alternative. Not only does it include the easy walking on the long grassy Red Screes western slopes but in addition offers more time to explore the knobbly, interesting ridge up to Dove Crag. Normally the Dove Crag side of the Fairfield Horseshoe is undertaken on the descent. At this point anyone tends to the tired and disinterested. The ridge is worth more.
Red Screes is usually climbed as a steep up and down from Kirkstone Pass but this does not do it justice. The summit is superb, with the views over Brothers Water and across the eastern fells one of the best. The summit tarn is a pleasant surprise. The long wide ridge which descends to Ambleside has good views in a southerly direction. However Red Screes is an isolated fell. The crossing at Scandale Hause is low and makes for a long hard pull up to its summit of over 800 feet (250m).
On the crossing between Dove Crag and Red Screes is a rocky little Wainwright summit. Little Hart Crag is worth the detour for the views and the chance to have a little scramble before the tough pull up Red Screes.
When leaving Dove Crag return along the ridge for 400m to a cairn. A grassy path heads east to a line of rusty fence posts before coming more obvious. The foot of Scandale Hause can be a little confusing in the mist. There is a path but it is indistinct. Keep the rocky Little Hart Crag on your left before dropping to a wall with a large ladder stile. From here keep close to the wall on the climb of Red Screes.
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