Around Hayeswater and Angle Tarn From Hartsop - Lake District Cumbria - Walk 3388

Nat Park	Lake District
County/Area	Cumbria
Author	Stephen Starkey
Length	11.5 miles / 18.7 km
Ascent	3260 feet / 988 metres
Grade	moderate/hard
Start	OS grid reference NY402134 Lat 54.38562747712818 + Long -3.533847007442904 Postcode CA11 0NZ (approx. location only)

If you tell somebody you had a walk around Hayeswater, chances are they will think you mean Haweswater. Similarly, tell somebody you headed North across Kirkstone Pass, stopped at the first place you came to on the other side and set off for a walk, they would most likely think of Patterdale (or may be even Glenridding) and a route up Helvellyn with the hordes. One effect of such blinkered thinking is that there is good parking at Hartsop and the fells around the area are quiet.

The day I did this walk – a Sunday in September – the weather forecast was for a nice clear day (didn’t turn out that way, hence the lack of too many photos, though it did clear nicely about 3:00pm when I finished the walk !). Throughout the entire 18+km, I met a grand total of 4 people and 1 dog – 2 people at Thornthwaite Beacon, the other 2 plus dog at Angle Tarn. By comparison, some friends who walked Helvellyn the same day counted 276 people across Striding Edge in the 1 hour they sat at the top of the climb from Striding Edge and this was on a day with very poor visibility. So, if you want peace and quiet, …

The walk starts from the Cow Bridge car park (free) at Hartsop (Grid ref. NY402134) and heads back along the main road to the telephone box and the minor road to the “main centre” of Hartsop to pick up the bridleway that leads alongside Hayeswater Gill towards Hayeswater.

When the path splits at grid ref. NY415129, cross the bridge and take the path on the South (right hand) side of the beck and continue to climb gently. As the bulk of Gray Crag looms on the right, the path passes through a gate in the wall. Continue to follow the path for about another 50m, looking for a faint grassy path on the right. If unsure, the path is wider and more obvious part way up the hill and once spotted, the fainter path lower down the slopes can be detected. This path is not marked on any map I’ve seen but the CRoW Act overcomes any access problem.

This is the start of a very steep, very tough climb. The path heads initially towards the visible crags part way up the hill then bends round to the right and becomes more obvious as it follows the Northern shoulder of Gray Crag incessantly upwards. There is no respite for the lungs and calf muscles until gaining the summit ridge. The ridge has three ‘tops’, all marked by cairns. The first (and lowest) of the three is generally regarded as the “Wainwright” summit.

Once on the summit ridge, follow the now obvious path in a Southerly direction along the ridge. About 250m after passing the third (and highest) top on the ridge, the path passes through a gap in the wall. The path then climbs steadily to arrive at the huge beacon atop Thornthwaite Crags.

Follow the obvious path as it swings round to the SE / E / NE on to the High Street path, climbing gently along the route of a Roman Road, with Hayeswater Gill to the left and Blea Water to the right. From the cairn at the summit of High Street, either cut off to the West to rejoin the main path or alternatively follow the line of the wall / fence above Hause Crag to merge back with the main path to the Straits Of Riggindale and on to the summit of The Knott.

Follow the wall NW from the summit of The Knott then turn left on to a bridleway at the corner of the wall, rejoining the main path heading West then North West towards Angle Tarn. The earlier outward route along Gray Crag is now visible across the far side of Hayeswater. At the col (Grid ref. NY422138), the path crosses a wall junction by a combination of stile and gate then continues ahead. However, at this point I would recommend turning left away from the main path and following the visible track (again, not marked on any map) that follows the dry stone wall for a short distance before picking a way across the boggy flats to lead to the summit of Brock Crags, marked by a prominent cairn. From the summit cairn of Brock Crags, head North for about 30m to the secondary top that reveals fantastic views across Angle Tarn.

From Brock Crags, retrace your steps back to the main path by the gate then turn left to follow the main path to Angle Tarn. Once nearing the Northern end of the tarn, I feel it is worthwhile venturing away from the main path again and taking one of the visible paths (again, not marked on the maps) to climb to the lower of the two Angletarn Pike peaks that again offers superb views back South across the tarn.

Rejoin the main path and continue in a NNW direction once more, crossing wild moorland and, with ever improving views of Place Fell ahead, descending to a junction of many paths at Boredale Hause. At the Hause there are (on a clear day) terrific views across Patterdale to the Helvellyn range.

At Boredale Hause, keep bearing round to the left, crossing a small stream twice, to effectively double back and now descend, initially quite steeply, on the West side of Rake Crag. The descent soon eases to leave an easy walk out along a bridleway back to Hartsop.

It is recommended you take a map with you when following a walk route. The preferred scale is 1:25000 used by the Explorer series.

Note : If two maps are listed at the same scale then either (a) both are required for full coverage of the route or (b) the route is covered on both maps.

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