I was by myself again today as Edith was visiting her brother. I didn't want to do any "new" Wainwrights as this would mean that we would have to revisit them at a later date for Edith so I decided that I would go to one of my favourite spots, the valley of Mardale. I left home just after 6:30am and was parked up ready to walk at Mardale Head for 8am. My aim was to walk around the head of the valley taking in some of in my opinion the finest fellwalking in Lakeland. My first objective would be the High Street otherwise known as Racecourse Hill. There are many routes to the High Street but none finer than the Rough Crag - Long Stile ridge which leads directly to the summit with fine views all the way.

I left the car at the small car park at Mardale Head. Very limited parking here especially at weekends.

After walking around the top of the reservoirs I took a slanting path upwards onto the Rough Crag ridge. Harter Fell from the ridge.

Looking along Haweswater from the Rough Crag ridge

and towards Harter Fell from the same place.

and of course my old favourite Kidsty Pike

A little further and higher along Rough Crag the High Street summit ridge comes into view

Kidsty Pike and the Head of Riggindale

Haweswater from the same place

Mardale Ill Bell with its twin ridges. Both make interesting walks but not today!

I am now on the highest point of the Rough Crag ridge looking right into the Head of Riggindale with the Short Stile ridge just showing left and Kidsty Pike right

From here there is a short descent to Caspel Gate before the climb up Long Stile begins.

Still from the same place the dark waters of Blea Water

I am now starting the climb up Long Stile and looking back over Caspel gate with its tarn to Rough Crag summit

Getting higher now and looking back down my route to Haweswater

The final leg up to the summit

Looking across to Kidsty Pike with High Raise behind it.

Looking back down from the top of Long Stile

The sun lights up a usually dark Blea Water

The High Street summit with the Helvellyn ridge to its left

A pleasure to walk upon!!......The route from the High Street to Thornthwaite Crag with the Ill Bell ridge to the left and Windermere in centre

Every time I come up here I try to imagine how it all looked when Roman Legions marched along this track. Would the fellsides still be covered in trees or would coppicing and grazing have cleared them by that time?

It makes you think what the conscripts (Yugoslavs I believe) would have felt marching along here in winter

Hayeswater from the path to Thornthwaite with Gray Crag left and The Knott and Rest Dodd to the right

The magnificent beacon on Thornthwaite Crag.....What craftsmen bult this and why?

The Beacon again with Froswick and Il Bell behind

Caudale Moor foreground with Red Screes behind from Thornthwaite Crag

Looking towards Windermere with Wansfell to the right

From Thornthwaite Crag my route would take me next to Mardale Ill Bell and beyond.

For the second part of this walk click here

Last Walk:    22nd July 2007 -- Whitbarrow from near Gilpin Bridge

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