We set off this morning to undertake a circuit of Nab Scar, Heron Pike, Great Rigg and Stone Arthur. Thanks to setting off nice and early we were able to secure one of a limited number of free parking spaces at Grasmere. A nearby car park was charging £5 for an initial two hours then a further £2 for each additional hour. Parking there for an eight-hour day on the hill would thus cost a staggering £17. Several other car parks there were charging £10.
Hills: Nab Scar, Heron Pike, Great Rigg and Stone Arthur
Date: Saturday 19th March 2022
Company: Myself and Ann-Marie
Distance: 14.1km, Ascent: 755m
Time: 4Hrs 20Mins
Route:
From our parking place, we crossed the road to take some photos of beautiful Grasmere before walking along the road towards Rydal.
Grasmere:
The view this morning across Rydal Water towards Loughrigg Fell was stunning. I have ascended Loughrigg Fell twice previously. It is one of my favourite low fells in the Lake District.
Loughrigg Fell reflections:
From Rydal, we made our way up the road past Rydal Church and beyond onto the public footpath ascending towards Nab Scar.
Rydal church:
The views got better and better as we gained height ascending Nab Scar. Despite setting off early, there were already a good number of other walkers on the fell.
Ascending Nab Scar:
Not only were the views sublime, the accompanying sound of ravens and skylark were a delight to the senses.
Looking back towards Windermere:
In my view, Nab Scar isn't really a fell, it is simply a really nice viewpoint on the ridge leading towards Fairfield. Nab Scar only has a two metre drop.
Rydal Water from Nab Scar:
At the "summit" of Nab Scar:
From Nab Scar, after a gruelling two metre descent, we continued along the ridge towards Heron Pike.
Ascent towards Heron Pike:
On reaching the first top of Heron Pike (612m), I checked the map which confirmed this was the Wainwright summit. The top a short distance beyond is 621m i.e. 9 metres higher and yet it is not the Wainwright.
The list of Wainwrights is a somewhat bizarre list in comparison to the Munros, Corbetts, Fionas, Donalds and pretty-much every other list. There are Wainwright fells which are simply bumps with only two metre drops, there are numerous Wainwrights which are not the fell high point, ...
At the Wainwright summit of Heron Pike (612m):
At the summit of Heron Pike (621m):
From Heron Pike we continued along the ridge to our third Wainwright of the day, Great Rigg.
Great Rigg:
Looking back towards Heron Pike:
On reaching the summit of Great Rigg, I stopped to take numerous photos.
At the summit of Great Rigg:
Fairfield and Hart Crag from summit of Great Rigg:
Looking west from the summit of Great Rigg:
While it was really tempting to continue on to also ascend Fairfield, I had ascended Fairfield previously while undertaking the Fairfield Horseshoe. Ann-Marie was also not feeling great so we therefore returned, as planned, a short distance back in the direction of Heron Pike before descending via the ridge leading towards Stone Arthur.
The descent was pleasant albeit boggy in places.
Descent towards Stone Arthur:
At the summit of Stone Arthur:
From Stone Arthur, after a little bit of easy hands-on, we reached a good track leading back down to the road. On reaching the road, we walked a couple of kilometres back to the car.
A really enjoyable short day out taking in four Wainwrights.