Haystacks from Honister Pass

Lake District Walk

Walk Route Description

Click image to see photo description.

Haystacks, despite its relatively lowly stature (597 m.), was a favourite haunt of Wainwright. Surrounded by many high fells and with views to many of the other major peaks in Lakeland, Haystacks is a very worthwhile objective for a half day Lake District walk.

The start is the top of Honister Pass (Grid ref. NY 225135) where there is a car park near the slate mine and some limited roadside parking. Honister Pass also benefits from a limited bus service. From the car park walk alongside the road towards Buttermere passing the slate factory on your left. The path exits left and climbs immediately leading you onto the old trackbed of a quarry incline. You have over 500 feet of ascent before the incline begins to descend reaching an old quarry building at Dubs Quarry.

The path goes to the left of the building and descends half left to cross a stream, which can be difficult to cross after heavy rain. Once across the stream the path begins to climb again weaving through a rocky landscape with excellent views of Buttermere to your right. Still climbing you pass Blackbeck Tarn on your left before reaching the shores of Innominate Tarn. Skirting the northern shore the path continues to the summit of Haystacks.

The summit of Haystacks deserves some time. It is a fascinating place to be with many simple scrambles to keep you busy, a small tarn and excellent views. To the west you have the High Stile Ridge, Buttermere and Crummock Water, and the Grasmoor massif whilst in other directions there is a vast array of fells including Great Gable, Scafell Pike, Pillar and Helvellyn. Once you have enjoyed the views return by the same route making sure you have enough energy for the climb from Dubs Quarry to the summit of the incline.

Walk GradingMore Lake District Walks

Other walks nearby

Walk 1112	Great Gable from Honister Pass	hard	7.3 miles
Walk 1114	Scafell Pike via Corridor Route from Seathwaite	hard	9.5 miles
Walk 1236	Styhead Tarn and Seathwaite Fell from Seathwaite	moderate	7.0 miles
Walk 1306	Base Brown & Great Gable from Seathwaite	mod/hard	6.0 miles
Walk 2046	Great End via the north west face from Seathwaite	very hard	7.0 miles