Route: High Rigg
Area: Central Lake District
Date of walk: 2nd August 2016
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 5.6 miles
Ascent: 1,100 feet
Weather: Cloudy with one or two bright patches
The weather forecast predicted a 90% chance of cloud free summits in the morning and based on those decent odds I’d planned to climb Blencathra. I made a very early start but sadly the top of the mountain was covered by thick clouds and there would have been no views. Gone are the days when I’d climb a fell in any weather in order to bag it, so I quickly came up with a plan B and parked at the foot of nearby High Rigg, one of my favourite lower level fells
I made my way up the southern end of the fell and then across the long knobbly summit ridge. There were good views of Blencathra ahead but it still had its head in the clouds – I’d made the right decision
As the end of the ridge I descended to the little church. Just beyond it there are two possible return routes, an elevated one along the eastern flanks of High Rigg and another along the valley floor. I took the latter, having taken the former last time here
It was a pleasant stroll back through St John’s in the Vale and thanks to the early start I finished the walk by 10.30am
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
Sunset the day before the walk - Criffel in Scotland from the North West Lake District
Just after dawn next morning a red squirrel in the garden
The start of today’s walk - the ladder stile at the foot of High Rigg with the A591 behind me
The climb starts immediately, initially through woodland
The way ahead
Looking back to Great How
…and again, with the A591 running beside it - the key to getting from the north to the south Lake District
The long spine of the eastern fells
Pine trees on Wren Crag
Looking back to Castle Rock
Thirlmere
Looking back past Great How
A down and up to the highest part of the ridge
Blencathra in the clouds
Thirlmere and Raven Crag
Great How again
Looking back to the A591…
…and to Great How and Thirlmere
My return leg along St John’s in the Vale below
Further along the summit ridge
Clough Head on my right
Looking back along the ridge
I pass by a small tarn
Another down and up as I make my way along the ridge to the summit cairn
Good light on the crags of Clough Head
Bassenthwaite Lake comes into view
Lots of lumps and bumps looking across to Bleaberry Fell
Summit cairn on High Rigg, looking towards Blencathra - click here for another view from here last March
The lower crags of Clough Head again
Blencathra, still in the clouds
Looking down to Bridge House, the half way point of today’s walk
After an easy descent from the ridge, I pass by St John’s Church
I leave the quiet lane from the church and follow the sign for Bridge House
I cross a small footbridge near Bridge House
In common with other properties in the valley, Bridge House was badly affected by Storm Desmond and the awful floods last December
Just beyond the house, St John’s Beck
St John’s in the Vale - the haunt of buzzards and heron which we often see when we walk along this valley, and today was no exception
St John’s Beck
Further along the valley floor…
I walk past Sosgill Bridge
Sign near Low Bridge End Farm - teas and cakes are usually available here, but the farm has been another victim of the flooding and the cafe is closed at the moment
The valley path has merged with the higher level one by now, and carries on towards the end of St John’s in the Vale
The path climbs above the beck, with steepish drops further up, and rounds the toe of High Rigg
Back to the ladder stile and the discordant sound and sight of cars whizzing along the A591. Thankfully it only takes me a minute or so from here before I’m whizzing off home in my car
Later that day, another red squirrel
