High Rigg
Date: 20-Oct-2010
Map: Landranger 90
Weather: Bright blue skies.
From Castlerigg stone circle, down to Naddle Bridge and along the road to Low Rigg. Up and over Low Rigg, continuing steeply up to High Rigg. Back down and west to Nest Brow, and along the lane to Castlerigg stone circle: 6.4 miles as measured on Satmap.
I walked up Great Mell Fell this morning for a sunrise, followed by a journey down to Copt How in Great Langdale to look at some Neolithic rock art - cup and ring marks - quite a rare sight in the Lake District as most of the rock is too hard to peck out. The only other one is a faint spiral at the Castlerigg stone circle, and I couldn't spot that today, but I didn't look too hard for it. The weather was good and we had the prospect of a good sunset later on when we returned to the circle. I parked up at the roadside beside the circle - there is usually plenty of room here, and had a quick look around but was put off somewhat by too many people around the place. The initial route took us along the lane to Goosewell Farm from where we could see the gentle route up to Low Rigg across the valley. We left the road here to cross some fields down to Naddle Bridge, with Blencathra looking large up to the left and beyond Low Rigg was Clough End and the Dodds basking in the bright sunshine. With clear blue skies today I used a polarising filter on the camera, but I didn't use it very well, with the shots coming out a little too blue for my liking. I didn't waste much time processing them and later on I gave up using it - one day I'll have time to master the craft a little better - I think I'll save it for the snow this winter. Up ahead of us we could see five paragliders soaring above Clough Head, and later over Threlkeld Knotts below Clough Head. They were very close in at times by Wanthwaite Knotts but all managed to safely soar majestically skywards above the crags.
The Neolithic rock art at the bottom right with plenty
of pecked out cup marks
We carried on along the lanes until reaching the path up to Low Rigg and turned our backs on Blencathra for a steady ascent up a curved green farm track. As we gained height this became more stony and we paused for breathe now and again for a look back to Skiddaw and Blencathra bathed in sunlight. I paused by Tewit Tarn, a marvellous site for a picture over the water, on a still day that is, although it is pretty boggy around it's margins. As we topped out on Low Rigg we paused once more to admire the paragliders above - I could have done with a big zoom to get some cracking pictures. It's a well worn route along towards High Rigg, and the path drops down steadily to an old church and next door a youth centre. Across the Vale of St Johns the towering heights of Wanthwaite Crags looked very steep, although there is meant to be a route up through them called Fisher's Wife's Rake. Down at the youth centre we met a couple from Coniston armed with a pamphlet and nothing else. They asked the way to Dale Bottom, I showed the way on the map and they trotted off. Then next time I looked, they were following us up to High Rigg - no bus stops up there so I hope they made it back to Coniston.
looking back to Low Rigg with Skiddaw in the
background
the view south to Helvellyn and Thirlmere
looking back along the lumpy summit of High Rigg
The path up to High Rigg was behind the youth centre, and steep it is - mostly well grazed grass, that's so well used steps have formed up the hillside. It wasn't very long up to the summit and from the top there were great views down Thirlmere with the Helvellyn range to the left and High Seat up to the right. To the north Skiddaw and Blencathra dominate the skyline, with the Derwent Fells a little further west. I wandered around the lumpy bumpy summit for a while - a bit boggy in places, but it has a clear path south to Yew Crag and beyond. After some snacks and juice we returned the way we had arrived, dropping down to the youth centre. From here we turned left along a metalled track, passing through a gate that warned drivers of the steep and windy track ahead. A nice stroll down the lane, and we started out across fields in the late afternoon sun - it lit up the trees and hills superbly. We walked over a small bridge at Naddle Beck and up through pasture where the sheep followed us like sheep do. A short distance uphill led us to Castle Lane that would take us back to the stone circle, but it was narrow and we were glad we didn't meet any cars - I should have taken the path past High Nest for safety sake. There was a nice glow to the late sunshine when we arrived back at the circle, and plenty of photographers set up with cameras pointing over to High Crag, waiting for the sun to drop down below a cloud band and light up the hillside. But despite their best endeavours they were frustrated by a busload of Japanese tourists. The circle was mobbed and there were no clear shots to be had. Never mind, another single Wainwright ticked off in very pleasant autumnal weather, with some cracking views from the top.
the track down from High Rigg with Clough Head in
the background
the Japanese invaders - poor man
