Birketts West of Haweswater

The walk, stage by stage

1. 1

   Start → High Street (3.4 km, 589 m)

   Climb of about 589 m over 3.4 km (around 17% average).

   Starting from the Mardale Head car park, the route immediately crosses Mardale Beck and launches into a brutally steep, direct assault up the Rough Crag ridge. The 17% average gradient is unrelenting. The terrain transitions from steep grassy trods on the lower slopes to rocky scrambling over the sensational knife-edge of Long Stile. It is a phenomenal, heart-pumping climb that deposits you directly onto the massive, flat summit plateau of High Street

   Waypoints

   Start Point: Mardale Head Car Park (approx. NY 469 107). Rough Crag (628 m): The first major rocky vantage point on the ridge. Caspel Gate / Caspel Gate Tarn: The small depression and often-dry tarn before the final push. Long Stile: The steep, rocky scramble leading onto the High Street plateau. High Street Summit (828 m): Marked by a white OS trig pillar and the line of the old Roman Road

   Decision point

   Visual Boundaries: Blea Water sits in the massive glacial corrie to your left (south); Riggindale drops away to your right (north). The ridge is a perfect, unmistakable handrail

   Easy to get wrong

   Scrambling: Long Stile requires hands-on rock scrambling. While technically easy (Grade 1-ish), it is highly exposed. The rocks are treacherous when coated in winter ice or slick with rain. Gradient: There is zero warm-up. You are climbing violently from the moment you leave the car

   If you need to get off

   Retreat: Before Caspel Gate, you can carefully descend the way you came. Trap: Do NOT attempt to bail left (south) into the Blea Water corrie or right (north) into Riggindale from Caspel Gate or Long Stile. The terrain is perilously steep, craggy, and heavily bluffed out

2. 2

   High Street → Rampsgill Head (2.0 km, 81 m)

   Climb of about 81 m over 2.0 km (around 4% average).

   A high-level, incredibly exposed traverse along the broad spine of the Far Eastern fells. Leaving the High Street trig, you head north along the remnants of the Roman Road. The terrain is flat, grassy, and stony, dropping slightly into the Straits of Riggindale before a gentle 4% pull up to the summit of Rampsgill Head

   Waypoints

   The Roman Road: The wide, heavily-trodden thoroughfare. Straits of Riggindale: The narrowest point of the ridge, linking High Street to the northern fells. Rampsgill Head Summit (792 m): A fine viewpoint looking directly down the sheer drop of the Rampsgill valley

   Decision point

   Wall Remnants: The dilapidated remains of an old drystone wall guide you much of the way across the Straits

   Easy to get wrong

   Wind / Exposure: The Straits of Riggindale act as a massive wind funnel for westerlies. Expect severe buffeting here. Winter Cornices: Massive snow cornices form on the eastern (right) edge of this ridge above Riggindale in winter. Stay well back from the edge

   If you need to get off

   Retreat: Reversing back over High Street is usually slower. A safer bail in foul weather is to drop west into the Hayeswater valley, though this commits you to a very long, expensive taxi ride back from Hartsop to Mardale

3. 3

   Rampsgill Head → High Raise (High Street) (0.8 km, 15 m)

   Undulating section of about 0.8 km.

   A very brief, virtually flat hop across the high plateau. The ground is stony and often damp, but the walking is fast and easy

   Waypoints

   High Raise Summit (802 m): Adorned with an exceptionally large, well-built summit cairn (and a smaller secondary cairn)

   Decision point

   Visual Target: The massive cairn on High Raise is visible from Rampsgill Head in clear weather

   Easy to get wrong

   Whiteout Navigation: While physically easy, this broad, featureless plateau is highly disorienting in mist

   If you need to get off

   Retreat: Keep moving. Bailing directly off this plateau involves dangerous crags to the north-west (Martindale)

4. 4

   High Raise (High Street) → Low Raise (0.9 km, 0 m)

   Undulating section of about 0.9 km.

   Continuing north-east, the route descends almost imperceptibly across a broad expanse of fell grass. The path begins to fade here as you leave the main Wainwright-bagging routes and head into the quieter Birkett territory

   Waypoints

   Low Raise Summit (762 m): A very subtle, grassy bump on the ridge line

   Decision point

   Line of Sight: Keep Wether Hill in your sights dead ahead to maintain your bearing

   Easy to get wrong

   Subtle Summit: The top of Low Raise is so flat and non-distinct that it is easy to walk straight past it if you aren't paying attention to your altimeter or GPS

   If you need to get off

   Trap: Do not drift left (north/west). This takes you into the deep, remote valleys feeding Ullswater (Fuesdale/Measand), trapping you miles from Mardale

5. 5

   Low Raise → Red Crag (2.3 km, 34 m)

   Descent of about 43 m over 2.3 km.

   You now abandon the main ridge and head into the notorious, pathless expanse of Bampton Common. Dropping east/north-east, the terrain rapidly deteriorates from firm fell grass to energy-sapping tussocks, deep heather, and labyrinthine peat hags

   Waypoints

   Bampton Common: The sprawling, boggy plateau. Red Crag Summit (714 m): A rocky Birkett outcropping providing a rare dry spot on this section of the moorland

   Decision point

   Compass Bearings: Absolute discipline is required here. Shoot a bearing from Low Raise and stick to it, breaking the walk into paced intervals

   Easy to get wrong

   Peat Hags & Bogs: This is a grueling 2.3 km. You will constantly detour around black peat trenches and sodden, boot-swallowing moss. Clag Navigation: This area is a navigational nightmare in thick cloud. It is completely featureless, and the twisting detours around bogs make it incredibly easy to lose your bearing

   If you need to get off

   Retreat: If the bogs are impassable after heavy rain, retrace your steps to High Raise and descend the main ridge

6. 6

   Red Crag → Gowk Hill (2.2 km, 2 m)

   Descent of about 281 m over 2.2 km.

   A steep, sustained descent off the high moorland. Turning north-north-west, you drop rapidly toward the Haweswater valley. The terrain is pathless, featuring steep, often slippery fell grass that gives way to bracken on the lower slopes

   Waypoints

   Gowk Hill Summit (473 m): A rounded, grassy Birkett on the spur above the lake

   Decision point

   Visual Targeting: The massive expanse of Haweswater is a constant, unmissable target dead ahead

   Easy to get wrong

   Knee Strain: The 281m descent is sharp and unremitting; trekking poles are highly advised. Bracken: In summer, the lower approaches to Gowk Hill are choked with deep bracken, hiding rocks and holes

   If you need to get off

   Retreat: Continue the descent. Dropping from Gowk Hill to the Haweswater shoreline path is a safe, fast bail off the fells if the weather turns

7. 7

   Gowk Hill → Low Kop (4.1 km, 270 m)

   Climb of about 270 m over 4.1 km (around 7% average).

   A deeply tiring, long traverse. Instead of dropping to the lake, you must contour south and climb back up the eastern flanks of the High Street massif. The 7% average gradient masks the rugged, pathless nature of the terrain, crossing multiple small drainage lines and heavy grass to reach the lonely outpost of Low Kop

   Waypoints

   Measand Beck Catchment (upper): You will cross several small feeder streams here. Low Kop Summit (529 m): A remote Birkett sitting quietly on the eastern slopes of Wether Hill

   Decision point

   Contouring: Keep Haweswater strictly on your left (east) as you traverse south

   Easy to get wrong

   Fatigue: On tired legs, this 4.1 km mid-level traverse feels endless. The lack of a defined path means every step is uneven. Wet Crossings: After rain, the numerous small gills draining the fellside can be tricky to cross without getting wet feet

   If you need to get off

   Retreat: Turn left (east) and drop directly down the fellside to intercept the Haweswater shore path, which leads right back to Mardale Head

8. 8

   Low Kop → Castle Crag (Mardale) (5.2 km, 151 m)

   Climb of about 151 m over 5.2 km (around 3% average).

   An immense, rolling traverse along the mid-slopes above Haweswater. This stage crosses the deep, rugged ravines of Randale Beck and Whelter Beck. You are effectively walking across the grain of the mountain. The terrain involves faint sheep trods, old ruin walls, and steep descents into (and climbs out of) rocky gills, eventually depositing you at the ancient hillfort of Castle Crag

   Waypoints

   Randale Beck: The first major ravine crossing. Whelter Beck / Whelter Crags: The second, more dramatic craggy ravine. Castle Crag (Mardale) (approx. 300 m): A distinct, rocky knoll jutting out into the valley, the site of an ancient fort

   Decision point

   Ruin Walls: The remnants of old intake walls and sheepfolds dot this mid-level traverse, serving as good visual handrails

   Easy to get wrong

   Ravine Crossings: Whelter Beck in particular sits below imposing crags. You must pick your line carefully to cross the gill safely without being forced onto dangerous, steep ground. Summer Growth: This entire contour line is heavily overgrown with bracken from July to September

   If you need to get off

   Trap: When crossing Whelter Beck, do not drift too high (west). You will become dangerously bluffed out below Whelter Crags. Retreat: At any point on this 5.2 km traverse, dropping east safely delivers you to the Haweswater shore track

9. Castle Crag (Mardale) → Finish (3.0 km, 92 m)

   Climb of about 92 m over 3.0 km (around 3% average).

   The final leg. From the rocky perch of Castle Crag, you drop down to the head of Haweswater. The route then picks up the undulating, rocky shoreline path (or the minor access roads if the water level is high) for a final, rolling 3 km back to the car park

   Waypoints

   Haweswater Head: The westernmost tip of the reservoir. The Shore Path: The rugged path wrapping around the lake. Finish Point: Mardale Head Car Park

   Decision point

   The Lake: Keep the water on your left

   Easy to get wrong

   Shoreline Rocks: The path along the edge of Haweswater is not a flat stroll; it is highly undulating, paved with awkward rocks and tree roots that demand focus when you are exhausted

   If you need to get off

   Retreat: You are off the open fell. Simply follow the shoreline path directly back to your vehicle