Stone Arthur, Great Rigg, Heron Pike & Nab Scar Loop

[Chris Mac]

Stone-Arthur-Great-Rigg-Heron-Pike--Nab-Scar.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

After yesterday's warm-up, it was on to the main event, a bigger walk than Sour Howes and Sallows and I had got it into my head that I would be leaving the Lake District today with 10 Wainwrights in the bag!

When planning the night before, after seeing the hills at the north end of Windermere and Ambleside on the boat trip, I searched some walks on the Lake District equivalent of Walkhighlands (not hard to guess what that is ) and tried to find a route that would be around 11-12km and also had 4 Wainwrights. The full Fairfield Horshoe was probably too much for Y but what's this, there's a route you can do from Grasmere, up to Stone Arthur, Great Rig, along to Heron Pike (after the north top) and down to Nab Scar. Four to bag and 13km, although we would not do the full loop shown, instead we'd cut down and follow a path from Nab Scar to Alcock Tarn and back to the start point of the ascent so knock a km or so off. Perfect.

We had another hearty brekkie at the excellent Beech House B&B in Windermere we set off to Grasmere, got caught doing a full loop of the town once to find a parking spot (I wonder how many others do this on their first drive through! ) but luckily before turning right to head into Grasmere again I caught sight of the large lay-by on the left of the A591 heading south and pulled in there. Sweet, just a walk along the road to the hotel where the walk starts.

Tooling up in the boot our first target; Stone Arthur, teased us in the distance. Looks like a steep ascent to begin with!
20170625_103713 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

All set, off we go along the road heading north with wee Helm Crag looking good on the left, MacDonald Swan Hotel up ahead where we'll turn right:
20170625_105641 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

We take the road on the right aside the hotel and Stone Arthur pops into view again:
20170625_110148 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Follow it round to the left then take a right turn at the wooden sign post for the Greenhead Gill Track:
20170625_110251 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

This is our loop point, we're going left for the ascent and will finish at Alcock Tarn coming back down the path to the right:
20170625_110734 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Immediately the landscape is instantly appealing, take that Y!
20170625_110859 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Unfortunately the path is also a bit of a hike to begin with so there are a few break stops but luckily, as is always the case with a steep ascent, the views get better with every step! Helm Crag:
20170625_112321 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

The path cuts diagonally across the steep green hillside towards the lone tree higher up. Stone Arthur is top left, Heron Pike in the middle and Grasmere Lake bottom right:
20170625_112509 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

We're much closer to the Langdale Pikes and Old Man of Coniston than we were yesterday and i'm loving it as the views open up:
20170625_113520 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

20170625_113527 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

We pass a sheep and lamb at the lone tree then the path turns left and goes up to Stone Arthur's rocky summit:
20170625_115321 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Nothing boring about our walk today!
20170625_115535 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

I do quite enjoy bounding ahead (i'm now called mountain goat on a regular basis) as it's great getting tiny stick figures in the middle distance to add some scale to the vista.

Heron Pike, blocking the view to Windermere, it will be good once we're up at Great Rig and can see in that direction. Middle right is Alcock Tarn and our descent route:
20170625_120908 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Now we're talking!
20170625_120923 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Almost at Stone Arthur summit (behind me in this photo) and up ahead mid right is the summit of Great Rig:
20170625_121412 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Stone Arthur, 1 down 3 to go:
20170625_121451 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Grasmere:
20170625_121801 DSCF0655 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Helvellyn now visible in the distance behind Seat Sandal:
20170625_121902 DSCF0660 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Grasmere:
20170625_121906 DSCF0665 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

We enjoy the break and view for a bit longer before heading off again up the path towards Great Rig:
20170625_122201 DSCF0669 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

20170625_124705 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

20170625_124942 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

20170625_125406 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

At last, Windermere comes into view on our right to the south, as does the path we're taking next to visit Heron Pike:
20170625_125827 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Soon be there...
20170625_125952 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

The final summit section of Great Rig is a choice of nice scrambly rocky paths, mountain goat back in it's element again:
20170625_130004 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Rydal Beck, Ambleside and Windermere:
20170625_130016 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Ambleside, Windermere and Morecambe Bay in the distance:
20170625_130400 DSCF0705 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Approaching Great Rig summit, Fairfield behind it, to the far left is Striding Edge and Catstye Cam:
20170625_130717 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

20170625_131000 DSCF0710 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Easy going from here on out:
20170625_131100 DSCF0718 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Coniston Water, Grasmere and the Old Man of Coniston:
20170625_131101 DSCF0719 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

As I wait for a certain someone to catch up I snap away in zoom mode, spotting the edge of Skiddaw to the north, behind Dollywagon Pike:
20170625_131400 DSCF0721 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Mighty Helvellyn, with Striding Edge ridge going off to the right:
20170625_131600 DSCF0725 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

At last...
20170625_131700 DSCF0726 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Local peaks:
20170625_131701 DSCF0728 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Jaggy summit:
20170625_131800 DSCF0729 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Popular summit:
20170625_131802 DSCF0731 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Catstye Cam in the background and Striding Edge with people to scale, looking like an outstanding ridge walk that wouldn't look out of place anywhere in Scotland:
20170625_131803 DSCF0732 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

This has definitely made me want to climb Helvellyn even more...
20170625_131804 DSCF0733 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Leaving future hiking dreams for now, it's back to the view at hand which to the south is about as nice as you can get:
20170625_132413 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Great Rig summit, up to 8 now:
20170625_132600 DSCF0738 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Windermere, Heron Pike North Top and Heron Pike, we'll soon be heading that way:
20170625_132700 DSCF0740 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

20170625_134600 DSCF0748 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Refreshed and after enjoying a chat with the two older walkers at the summit, we set off for the easy ridge stroll to the final 2 and a half targets of the day, Heron Pike North Top not being a Wainwright but it is a Nuttall and a Birkett:
20170625_134930 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Looking back to Great Rig, Fairfield and Hart Crag:
20170625_135420 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

As we follow the path south, on the right are the Langdale Pikes with Scafell's behind, another area of the Cumbrian Mountains i'm looking forward to exploring on a future visit:
20170625_140529 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

I reach Heron Pike North Top, also known as Rydal Fell, as Y takes the bypass and misses out on this nice panorama of the summit wall feature:
20170625_140721 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

It was actually clear enough to just make out Blackpool Tower in the distance when zoomed in fully!
20170625_140806 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Heron Pike and Y up ahead, Old Man of Coniston back right:
20170625_140809 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

The trodden path behind us, the full horseshoe must be a fun walk, will have to do that another day:
20170625_141302 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Heron Pike and a quick summit pose:
20170625_141559 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

The path now takes a steep dive south and slightly east towards Nab Scar, which is a strange Wainwright being just a cairn on a rocky feature down the end of the Heron Pike Hillside, which is really just a part of the larger Great Rig, which is just a top of Fairfield.... which would be a big meaty Corbett + tops in Scotland. Wainwright certainly wasn't one for prominence!

20170625_141815 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

There are several paths to chose from and at this point Y was a little fatigued so we agreed that I would head further along to bag Nab Scar and Wainwright number 10 while she would cut right earlier to head down to Alcock Tarn to wait for me catching up.
20170625_142646 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Closer to Windermere now, looking a lot smaller than it actually is from the north, side on views from Sour Howes yesterday show just how long it is:
20170625_143500 DSCF0768 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Not quite as dramatic a drop beyond is it looks here:
20170625_143600 DSCF0770 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Further down Y takes the path right and I continue on the Nab Scar "summit" cairn...
20170625_144239 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

20170625_144247 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Success and mission accomplished:
20170625_144329 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Looking back, up Heron Pike, the path down to Alcock Tarn is just left of Lord Crag:
20170625_144342 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

20170625_145234 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

In no time at all Alcock Tarn is in view, with distant Helm Crag looking tiny:
20170625_145623 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Langdale Pikes and Alcock Tarn:
20170625_145910 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Definitely on the to-do list!
20170625_150300 DSCF0779 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

A nice view across the Tarn to Stone Arthur and Great Rigg, it's been a cracking wee walk with a bit of everything and brilliant views:
20170625_150614 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

We continue on...
20170625_150802 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Greenhead Gill leading up to Great Rig:
20170625_151545 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Helm Crag and the final steep section of path back to the Swan Hotel:
20170625_151553 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

It looks steep but was easy going:
20170625_151809 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Looking across at the start of the walk, almost full loop now:
20170625_152418 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Helm Crag, small, but I like it:
20170625_152822 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

20170625_153250 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

We stop at the bottom of the path for a rest on Tim Oldfield's bench which is great as you feel like a kid again due to your feet not touching the ground and being able to swing them!
20170625_153509 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

A final look back to Stone Arthur:
20170625_153546 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Stream crossing time, easy peesy, even Y managed no bother and she's a fearty when it comes to crossing fences and water!
20170625_154317 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

We reach tarmac again, turn left...
20170625_155233 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Left again at the Hotel and follow the main road back to the lay-by car park:
20170625_155715 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Enjoy the view as you do...
20170625_155719 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

After reaching the car we concluded that it was a perfect day out and I had chosen well, now the difficult part was next, where to go for belly refuelling in Grasmere?!

We parked up and wandered about but it was between lunch and dinner time, luckily 1769 was open and a quality Fish 'n Chips and Steak Pie provided enough fuel for the drive back to Scotland.

So visit number 3 to Lake Land was another winner as we got to take in a new and unexplored section and see new parts for exploring in future. On the drive back it made sense to go straight north towards Keswick then home via Penrith and I was so glad we did this as the drive from Grasmere on the A591 then B5322 Threlkeld was a definite highlight and reminded me of Scotland, with long, empty Thirlmere surrounded by steep sided hills and the giants Skiddaw and Blencathra filling up the view ahead, it blew me away!

As always the people of Cumbria were very friendly and the food was top notch, see you again at some point next year... cheers!