Route: Fleetwith Pike
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 19th July 2018
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 4.2 miles
Ascent: 1,800 feet
Weather: Mixed sunshine and cloud, very warm
We parked in the car park at Gatesgarth Farm and walked beside the Honister Pass road for a few yards before turning off to start the climb up Fleetwith Pike. It’s a relentlesss climb up Low Raven Crag, along Fleetwith Edge and thence to the summit. The ridge looks alarming seen from below, and while there are some steep sections where hands are needed, there’s nothing to frighten the horses – it’s a delightful climb. The enjoyment of the ascent is enhanced by the wonderful retrospective views over Buttermere and Crummock Water
From the summit we made our way along the knobbly hinterland of the fell across to Dubs Quarry. When we reached the old slate mining works we joined the rocky path beside Warnscale Beck which took us down to Warnscale Bottom. There were more glorious views over Buttermere as we made the easy descent
Having reached valley level, it was a stroll back along the path to Gatesgarth to complete a short but superb fell walk
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
Red squirrel in the garden shortly after dawn on the day of the walk. There were at least 3 individuals, which suggests that they have bred successfully. A wonderful start to the day
Later that morning, the start of the walk, looking along the Honister Pass. The climb starts immediately
Fanny Mercer's Cross, erected in memory of a young servant girl who fell and died here in 1887 while descending from the fell
The Honister Pass again
An early view back to Buttermere beyond Gatesgarth, where we'd started our walk
Looking up the nose of the fell, summit unseen from here
Crummock Water comes into view beyond Buttermere
Looking across to Haystacks, with Pillar in the background
Our return path will take us past this stand of Buttermere pines at the end of the walk
Looking across the Honister Pass
Green Crag, and our descent path left of centre
That view again
Onwards and upwards
Great Gable
Dale Head on the far side of the Honister Pass - heather is in bloom early this year, presumably as a result of the recent drought...
Summit cairn on Fleetwith Pike, with a glimpse of Loweswater beyond Buttermere and Crummock Water
Rolling back the clock 20 years - an old photo of our son James from the same spot
Start of the descent as we cross the hinterland of Fleetwith Pike
We arrive at an old slate quarry...
Haystacks above a disused mining hut
The path on the left leads to Haystacks, but we keep right to continue our descent
Warnscale Beck is on our left, and will accompany us down to the valley bottom
We follow the path around the lower flanks of Fleetwith Pike
Looking along Warnscale Beck to Buttermere
The path is a rocky one, but the gradient is quite gentle and there are no difficulties
We reach the valley floor - Mellbreak is in the background
A view back along our path
We pass by the stand of pines we'd viewed from above during the ascent
I'd spotted this bird at the start of the walk, and here it is again at the end - a juvenile Peregrine Falcon. A grabbed shot, heavily cropped, but a first for me. The falcon was in pursuit of a crow but failed in its attack
Buttermere bothy
A last view back along the path as we arrive back at Gatesgarth to end a wonderful walk
