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Fairfield Horseshoe
Rydal Bridge - Nab Scar - Heron Pike - Great Rigg - Fairfield - Hart Crag - Dove Crag - High Pike - Low Pike - Rydal Park - Rydal Bridge
The sun tried all day to break through the hazy cloud which meant perfect fell walking weather as it never got too hot and the light breeze was very welcome on the uphill stretches.
An early start saw me as second car in the Rydal Bridge car park at about 8:30. This was packed to the rafters by the time I returned at 14:15 with Under Loughrigg & Rydal Park being very popular low level haunts in the sunshine.
The climb up Nab Scar from Rydal Hall was a fairly steep start but the views just keep getting better the higher you get ... the view back to Windermere was great today and the shot of Damson over Rydal Water was my favourite today.
- Nab Scar from Rydal Mount
- Damson & Rydal Water
The uphill sections on this side of Rydal Valley are fairly tough going and energy sapping especially Great Rigg.
- Heron Pike
- Great Rigg
The views out to Helvellyn over Dollywagon Pike & out over St. Sundays Crag are spectacular from Fairfield.
- Helvellyn from Fairfield
- St Sundays Crag from Fairfield
At Fairfield, after a wander about taking pics on the top we headed almost back on ourselves to the head of Hart Crag and the descent and ascent back up to Dove Crag.
- Heading out to Dove Crag
This looks steeper than it is and was comparatively easy compared to some of the previous tests. A long walk back following the wall over High & Low pikes followed, with some quite tricky, steep drops (I had to help Damson down on one section which is a first).
- Tough Descent
- View from High Pike
- Damson on High Pike
- Damson takes a rest on stile at Low Pike
Just before Nook End Farm we cut right down Scandale Beck where Damson had a dip to cool off as the sun had finally broken through and was quite strong for our stroll back through Rydal Park and past the front of the hall.
- Rydal Park
This is a classic in the heart of Lakeland and should not be missed by anybody fit enough to take the challenge.
- Fairfield Horseshoe from Heron Pike