High Rigg

High Rigg

Route: High Rigg

Area: Central Lake District

Date of walk: 31st December 2019

Walkers: Andrew 

Distance: 5.8 miles

Ascent: 1,300 feet

Weather: Sunshine and cloudless blue skies

This is a walk I’ve followed many times and is one of my favourites. I parked as usual in one of the roadside spaces on the A591 near Legburthwaite and after crossing the nearby ladder stile made my way up Wren Crag towards the ridge. The flanks of the crag are adorned by some fine old pine trees but it’s shame that a number of these – perhaps 20 or 30 – fell victim to gales a couple of years ago. The so-called ‘Beast from the East’, which was followed by a couple of other gales from the same direction, was the obvious culprit, since the trees are all lying on an east/west axis. This wind direction is highly unusual for the Lake District, and so the root systems of the trees had not grown to cope with it

When I reached the knobbly summit ridge I followed the undulating path up and down and after about 1.5 miles I arrived at the summit of High Rigg, from where there are lovely views, particularly those looking towards Blencathra. The cloudless blue skies and lack of clouds made the light rather harsh and contrasty and wasn’t ideal for photography

I then descended in the same direction as the ridge to reach the hause between High Rigg and Low Rigg. From here I followed a narrow lane for a few yards, passing by tiny St John’s Church, before joining a path which hugs the lower flanks of High Rigg, and from which there are good views across St John’s in the Vale 

Near the end of the vale I passed by Low Bridge End Farm (a good place to stop for tea and cakes) and continued along the valley path, which rises above St John’s Beck before descending back to the start. The walk had been as enjoyable as ever, and a good way to round off 2019

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

Previous walk: « | Next walk: »