High Street
Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2010 3:43 pmI'm relatively new to walking and hugely unfit so walking up wheelchair ramps has been an effort for me recently. I decided to drag the wife and dog up onto High Street via Riggindale Crag. The weather was excellent, not a cloud in the sky but cool and fresh, just how I like it. We parked at the car park at the end of Haweswater and took the footpath around the shore of the water to join the footpath close to "The Rigg". I have to say the climb looked daunting from the beginning, not scary daunting but "bugger me that looks hard" daunting.
Personally I thought the climb was relatively steep at the beginning, although as I say I am a novice to this, but it did have me out of breath pretty soon. The path is clearly marked and even though I did have an OS map with me I probably didnt need it. Grassy at the bottom with the occassional rocks and crags it makes a very pleasant landscape, stunningly beautiful in fact. Very soon you have to scramble and scurry over large protruding crags but again the path over can be clearly seen so these pose not too much of a challenge. To the north (right) of the trail is Riggindale with Kidsty Pike the imposing backdrop and to the south(left) is Blea Water glistening temptingly in the sun (absolutely freezing though no doubt) with Mardale Ill Fell overlooking menacingly. The path dips and raises in many places and there are rocks and crags to climb over on the way but nothing a fat loafer from Leigh couldn't manage so I'm sure you'll be fine.
The final climb up to the summit could appear frightening and challenging if you've never faced anything like this before (like me) but all I can say is give it a go, you will be fine. If you have any level of fitness you will be ok, I don't and I made it and felt I had really achieved something once perched on top. There was a couple of crags that I had to lift the dog up but nothing that should worry you. The missus was dissappointed that she couldn't find Primark or Next on this High Street but we rambled anyway and finally made the decision to make our way down the same way we had come up. With hindsight this was a mistake, the descent is steep and tricky and to be honest my legs had had enough. Given the choice now I would make my way round to either Mardale Ill Bell or Kidsty Pike and come down either of those.
This was our first serious hike and by the end of the day two things were apparent, firstly the fact my legs felt as if they were filled with lead and secondly a sense of achievement that neither of us had anticipated when we pulled up at the carpark and gazed upwards to the summit (i confess i did swear).
If you're thinking of attempting this walk, go for it, after seven knee ops and with the energy levels of a sloth I did it, so can you!
Personally I thought the climb was relatively steep at the beginning, although as I say I am a novice to this, but it did have me out of breath pretty soon. The path is clearly marked and even though I did have an OS map with me I probably didnt need it. Grassy at the bottom with the occassional rocks and crags it makes a very pleasant landscape, stunningly beautiful in fact. Very soon you have to scramble and scurry over large protruding crags but again the path over can be clearly seen so these pose not too much of a challenge. To the north (right) of the trail is Riggindale with Kidsty Pike the imposing backdrop and to the south(left) is Blea Water glistening temptingly in the sun (absolutely freezing though no doubt) with Mardale Ill Fell overlooking menacingly. The path dips and raises in many places and there are rocks and crags to climb over on the way but nothing a fat loafer from Leigh couldn't manage so I'm sure you'll be fine.
The final climb up to the summit could appear frightening and challenging if you've never faced anything like this before (like me) but all I can say is give it a go, you will be fine. If you have any level of fitness you will be ok, I don't and I made it and felt I had really achieved something once perched on top. There was a couple of crags that I had to lift the dog up but nothing that should worry you. The missus was dissappointed that she couldn't find Primark or Next on this High Street but we rambled anyway and finally made the decision to make our way down the same way we had come up. With hindsight this was a mistake, the descent is steep and tricky and to be honest my legs had had enough. Given the choice now I would make my way round to either Mardale Ill Bell or Kidsty Pike and come down either of those.
This was our first serious hike and by the end of the day two things were apparent, firstly the fact my legs felt as if they were filled with lead and secondly a sense of achievement that neither of us had anticipated when we pulled up at the carpark and gazed upwards to the summit (i confess i did swear).
If you're thinking of attempting this walk, go for it, after seven knee ops and with the energy levels of a sloth I did it, so can you!
) from Mardale Ill Bell to the wall that runs roughly north/south by High Street and the Roman Road. Had to smile during its construction though as a sign stated that they were building it in the old fashioned way as they did centuries ago...................a couple of hundred metres over the the crest of the fell was a bright yellow JCB!!!!