Mardale Ill Bell, High Street, The Knott, Rampsgill Head, High Raise and Kidsty Pike

The walk, stage by stage

1. 1

   Start → Mardale Ill Bell (3.5 km, 514 m)

   Climb of about 514 m over 3.5 km (around 15% average).

   From the parking area at Mardale Head, head past the southern end of Haweswater, climbing the stony path up the valley alongside Small Water Beck. After passing Small Water tarn, tackle the steep zig-zags up to Nan Bield Pass. At the stone wind shelter on the pass, turn right (north-west) for the final rocky pull up to the summit of Mardale Ill Bell.

   Waypoints

   Mardale Head car park, Small Water Beck, Small Water (tarn), Nan Bield Pass (shelter), Mardale Ill Bell summit.

   Decision point

   Small Water and the prominent stone wind shelter at Nan Bield Pass serve as massive visual handrails on the ascent.

   Easy to get wrong

   A heavy 14% average climb that front-loads the day's physical effort. The zig-zags up to Nan Bield Pass are steep and stony, but mechanically straightforward. The views down the precipitous crags to Blea Water and Haweswater from the summit are spectacular. Mardale Ill Bell's eastern side falls to the Mardale Waters — Blea Water and Small Water sit in crater coves ringed by crags.

   If you need to get off

   Turn around at Nan Bield Pass and descend the clear path back to Mardale Head.

   

   

2. 2

   Mardale Ill Bell → High Street (1.5 km, 77 m)

   Climb of about 77 m over 1.5 km (around 5% average).

   From Mardale Ill Bell, head north, dropping slightly to the shallow depression before picking up the broad path that gently ascends onto the massive, flat plateau of High Street.

   Waypoints

   Mardale Ill Bell, Blea Water (viewed below), High Street trig point.

   Decision point

   Keep the steep drops into the Mardale valley well to your right. The dry stone wall running along the summit plateau is an excellent handrail guiding you north to the trig point.

   Easy to get wrong

   The walking here is physically very easy, but the flat, featureless expanse of High Street (originally a Roman road) is hazardous to navigate in poor weather. The trig point is set near a wall, but in thick mist, the sheer size of the plateau is highly disorienting.

   If you need to get off

   Retrace your steps back to Nan Bield Pass. Do not drop blindly east off High Street into the steep coves.

   

3. 3

   High Street → The Knott (High Street) (1.8 km, 52 m)

   Descent of about 91 m, with about 52 m of climbing, over 1.8 km.

   Follow the wall northwards along the Straits of Riggindale. As the wall bends, bear left onto the clear path that drops down into the grassy hause, before traversing up to the small summit of The Knott.

   Waypoints

   Straits of Riggindale, The Knott summit.

   Decision point

   The wall along the Straits is a crucial handrail. The path branching off and up to The Knott is well-trodden and obvious.

   Easy to get wrong

   A pleasant, easy descent on grass and stone. There is very little physical difficulty here, though this high ground remains heavily exposed to westerly winds. In poor visibility, High Street's summit plateau is broad, flat and almost featureless, with few landmarks to fix on.

   If you need to get off

   No way down from here has been checked for this guide, and every way off is long; judge going on or going back from where you are.

4. 4

   The Knott (High Street) → Rampsgill Head (0.7 km, 74 m)

   Climb of about 74 m over 0.7 km (around 11% average).

   From The Knott, head north-east across the grassy depression, tackling the short but somewhat steep grassy pull directly up to the summit of Rampsgill Head.

   Waypoints

   The Knott, Rampsgill Head summit.

   Decision point

   The paths between these closely clustered tops are heavily trafficked and very visible.

   Easy to get wrong

   A short 11% bite of ascent, but the terrain is grassy and forgiving. Rampsgill Head isn't so much a dramatic peak as a high point offering staggering, plunging views down into the steep-sided "lost valley" of Rampsgill Beck. Rampsgill Head's north side drops steeply over crag and rough ground into upper Rampsgill, and precipitous cliffs line the ridge nearby.

   If you need to get off

   Retrace to The Knott. Dropping into the northern valleys from here constitutes a massive diversion away from the Mardale start point.

5. 5

   Rampsgill Head → High Raise (High Street) (0.8 km, 51 m)

   Descent of about 40 m, then a climb of about 51 m, over 0.8 km.

   Continue north-east along the broad ridge. The path crosses a wide, shallow, and sometimes boggy depression before rising gently to the large stone cairn on High Raise.

   Waypoints

   Rampsgill Head, High Raise summit cairn.

   Decision point

   High Raise is an enormous, rounded dome, and its large summit cairn acts as a distinctive target on the horizon.

   Easy to get wrong

   Extremely exposed, open fell walking. The ground between Rampsgill Head and High Raise holds water and can require a bit of weaving to keep your boots dry.

   If you need to get off

   Turn back towards Rampsgill Head and the High Street plateau.

6. 6

   High Raise (High Street) → Kidsty Pike (1.0 km, 52 m)

   Undulating section of about 1.0 km.

   Head south from the summit of High Raise across the grassy plateau toward the distinct, sharp peak of Kidsty Pike, dropping down to its rocky summit.

   Waypoints

   High Raise, Kidsty Pike summit.

   Decision point

   The pointed profile of Kidsty Pike is one of the most recognizable features in the Far Eastern fells and serves as a perfect visual handrail.

   Easy to get wrong

   Mechanically very simple, but Kidsty Pike feels totally different from the rounded grassy domes behind you—it’s a sharp, rocky prow with dramatic vertical drops into Riggindale.

   If you need to get off

   Proceed to Kidsty Pike, as the descent ridge immediately ahead is your best route off the fell.

   

7. Kidsty Pike → Finish (4.4 km, 84 m)

   Descent of about 528 m, with about 84 m of climbing, over 4.4 km.

   Leave the summit of Kidsty Pike heading east, picking your way down the steep, rocky spur of Kidsty Howes. The gradient eventually eases as you hit the grass, leading you down to Bowderthwaite Bridge. From here, join the shoreline path and walk the undulating route alongside Haweswater Reservoir back to the Mardale Head car park.

   Waypoints

   Kidsty Howes, Bowderthwaite Bridge, Haweswater shoreline path, Mardale Head car park.

   Decision point

   Follow the path down the ridge toward the water; do not take a direct line down the slope. Once you reach Bowderthwaite Bridge and the shoreline path, it's a straightforward highway back to the start.

   Easy to get wrong

   The initial descent down Kidsty Howes is steep, rocky, and requires care, especially in wet weather. Once off the ridge, the 4.4 km walk-out along the reservoir is beautiful but undulates enough to be noticeable on tired legs at the end of the day. Note that the ruins of the old Mardale Green village (flooded in the 1930s to make the reservoir) are sometimes visible near the valley floor if water levels are very low.

   If you need to get off

   Once on the shoreline path at Haweswater, you are entirely off the high fells and on the primary exit route.