Red Pike, High Stile, High Crag

[made in Scotland]

First day back walking for a while and we decided to head for Buttermere, so headed over Honister Pass and parked in the NT car park at Buttermere as I have joined the NT and decided to get my moneysworth in parking. It was sunny, but windy on the tops, great views, great bluebells, fantastic day! Walked down to the lake and paused to admire the view.

Buttermere looking towards Fleetwith Pike

Then onwards towards Red Pike, though we had to keep stopping to check the view behind us.

Climbing up towards Red Pike, looking back at Buttermere.

Good place to stop for lunch and see the crags that we would be walking above later.

Bleawater Tarn.

Quite a steep climb from here up to the top of Red Pike but had to keep stopping anyway to admire the view.

Looking down Crummock Water from the climb up to Red Pike.

Then the slippery, red, steep bit to the top. Met someone from Iowa sliding down rather faster than he intended to.

Red Pike - the red bit.

Didn't take any pics on top of Red Pike as there were quite a lot of people hogging the cairn and it was quite windy. So moved on to High Stile which had great views of some hills for the future!

Some places to go in the future.

It was quite windy on top so headed off to High Crag and then slithered down steeply via Gamlin End to the main path back toward Buttermere. Some great bluebells around here, I'd heard about the ones at Rannerdale but didn't know about these so they were a nice surprise.

Haystacks with bluebells.

Then headed back to Buttermere with the scent of bluebells and sunshine!

Downhill towards Buttermere again. Looks very peaceful but my knees were complaining though!

Altogether a great walk on a great day, sun, lake views, hill views, not too busy, a tarn, crags, steep bits, easy bits, pub at the end, drive back over Honister and back in time for the cup final - apparently!

[A Drunken Taffer]

Good walk that one, done the High Stile range myself a few times. Great weather for it to!

[AJNicholls]

Red Pike Buttermere is my pick for one of the most knackering climbs in the Lake District. Thankfully the views are good to look at while people stop to get air back in their lungs!

[made in Scotland]

Good walk that one, done the High Stile range myself a few times. Great weather for it to!

Yes really good views all the time and the weather was amazing - hope it lasts.

Red Pike Buttermere is my pick for one of the most knackering climbs in the Lake District. Thankfully the views are good to look at while people stop to get air back in their lungs!

Yes it was slightly crazy to pick this one for the first walk for a while - rather steep! I've been running uphill on the treadmill over winter (by mistake - I didn't realise I was on an uphill setting until someone commented the other day) so I think that helped!

Well if you found it knackering and you've just completed the Wainwrights there's hope for me yet! Well done by the way!

[SusieThePensioner]

Great report and photos for a great walk! Yes, difficult on the knees but, those fantastic views made up for it

[L-Hiking]

Nice report of a great area love those Blue Bells. You didnt find any parts of a Lumix Camera on the way down from High Crag did you?