High Stile ridge from Buttermere

[Beery Hiker]

It has taken me far too long to write this up, but this was the best day of my week in the Lakes last September.

Having left the hostel at Buttermere, I took the direct path to Scale Bridge


High Stile etc by Beery Hiker, on Flickr

The path towards Scale Force is much improved since Wainwright's day!

First view of Crummock Water

High Stile etc by Beery Hiker, on Flickr

Looking over to Rannerdale Knotts, with Grasmoor and Whiteless Pike behind

High Stile etc by Beery Hiker, on Flickr

Crummock Water again

High Stile etc by Beery Hiker, on Flickr


High Stile etc by Beery Hiker, on Flickr


High Stile etc by Beery Hiker, on Flickr

Scale Force

High Stile etc by Beery Hiker,
n Flickr

and from further back

High Stile etc by Beery Hiker, on Flickr

couldn't resist a few shots of the fungi

High Stile etc by Beery Hiker, on Flickr


High Stile etc by Beery Hiker, on Flickr

another glimpse of Scale Force

High Stile etc by Beery Hiker, on Flickr

above the force

High Stile etc by Beery Hiker, on Flickr

we could almost be in the Peak District now!

High Stile etc by Beery Hiker, on Flickr

looking down Scale Beck

High Stile etc by Beery Hiker, on Flickr


High Stile etc by Beery Hiker, on Flickr

Having left Scale Beck, the steep heather slope was hard work, but the views were opening a little

High Stile etc by Beery Hiker, on Flickr

but I soon reached easier grass slopes

High Stile etc by Beery Hiker, on Flickr

first view of the Solway Firth and Galloway

High Stile etc by Beery Hiker, on Flickr

The cairn on Starling Dodd is still very much as Wainwright drew it

High Stile etc by Beery Hiker, on Flickr

looking over Ennerdale Water

High Stile etc by Beery Hiker, on Flickr

and from a slightly better viewpoint

High Stile etc by Beery Hiker, on Flickr

Loweswater hills, Solway Firth turbines and Galloway

High Stile etc by Beery Hiker, on Flickr

First shower of the day over Crummock Water

High Stile etc by Beery Hiker, on Flickr

On the walk to red Pike looking back over Ennerdale

High Stile etc by Beery Hiker, on Flickr

... and the Isle of Man

High Stile etc by Beery Hiker, on Flickr

from Red Pike looking down to Buttermere

High Stile etc by Beery Hiker, on Flickr

more weather on the way

High Stile etc by Beery Hiker, on Flickr


High Stile etc by Beery Hiker, on Flickr

the ridge towards High Stile

High Stile etc by Beery Hiker, on Flickr

Bleaberry Tarn

High Stile etc by Beery Hiker, on Flickr

and again from further round

High Stile etc by Beery Hiker, on Flickr

on the summit plateau of High Stile

High Stile etc by Beery Hiker, on Flickr

Crummock Water again

High Stile etc by Beery Hiker, on Flickr


High Stile etc by Beery Hiker, on Flickr

The highest point according to the OS (Wainwright disagreed)

High Stile etc by Beery Hiker, on Flickr

looking on towards High Crag

High Stile etc by Beery Hiker, on Flickr

another view down to Buttermere

High Stile etc by Beery Hiker, on Flickr

Buttermere and Crummock Water from High Crag

High Stile etc by Beery Hiker, on Flickr

a rather untidy summit with a view towards Great Gable
High Stile etc by Beery Hiker, on Flickr

last view of Ennerdale Water

High Stile etc by Beery Hiker, on Flickr

the scree slope on Gamlin End is much improved by the well engineered zigzag path

High Stile etc by Beery Hiker, on Flickr

I continued over Seat to Scarth Gap, and took no more pictures until I reached the shores of Buttermere:

High Stile etc by Beery Hiker, on Flickr

[HalfManHalfTitanium]

Great photos of a fine route!

You got much closer to Scale Force than I did back in the 1970s, when I remember the place as an overgrown bracken jungle on very soggy ground.

But above the waterfall, I recall getting back near to the "Peak District" style stream among the luxuriant heather.

I never got to Starling Dodd, but your photo looks exactly like the Wainwright illustration!

The rest of the ridge is, of course, one of the classic Lakeland walks - and it's perfectly captured by your photos.

Tim

[Beery Hiker]

Great photos of a fine route!

You got much closer to Scale Force than I did back in the 1970s, when I remember the place as an overgrown bracken jungle on very soggy ground.

But above the waterfall, I recall getting back near to the "Peak District" style stream among the luxuriant heather.

I never got to Starling Dodd, but your photo looks exactly like the Wainwright illustration!

The rest of the ridge is, of course, one of the classic Lakeland walks - and it's perfectly captured by your photos.

Tim

Thanks Tim. Looking forward to the next Scottish trip