Explore with Amie

Happy New Year! I can’t believe we’re already in 2024. 2023 was a great year and I managed to accomplish all I wanted to: going to Australia and passing my driving test. I’m so excited to do some more exploring in 2024. Most of that will be happening in Scotland and the Lake District but, I already have a holiday abroad booked too in the coming months. I think there will be some great content opportunities this year and I’m looking forward to sharing them with you all. This post is another walking route in the Lake District including a bit of a ridge walk (not too scary!) and a couple of Wainwrights for you to tick off your list.

To begin the walk, you head through the gate to the left of the car park when you’re looking at the water. You should follow the path around the edge of the reservoir. The first challenge for us was heading up a thin path that was slightly overgrown with ferns. The main worry for us here was tics. I was quite relieved that I had opted to wear trousers despite the heat. I imagine this wouldn’t be so much an issue in the winter months but, even in the summer we didn’t get any tics in the end. You’re essentially climbing from the offset here.

This walk is a horseshoe so you can see the path that you are going to descend on the other side of the valley. The ascent path soon becomes a little rocky and you have to do a bit of climbing. This is nothing major though and definitely isn’t difficult compared to some of the other ridges in the Lake District. This is a really nice route to do High Street because it is a little bit more challenging and exciting than coming up from Kirkstone Pass. Notable features to check you’re on the right path include passing through a gate as well as the tarn on your left hand side.

High Street is the highest point on this walk and it was a bit of a slog to get up there because of the heat on this day. We had a lunch stop just before the final ascent to the peak to fuel up. You’ve done most the hard work already though and the descent is fairly easy going in comparison. I would say that High Street is probably not as impressive as some of the other Wainwrights because it is essentially on a very large plateau. It was very cool to see the F35 fighter jets practising in the area.

From the peak, follow the path to the right before crossing through the broken wall and heading to the right again towards Kidsty Pike. From here, it is very up and down as you head back towards the reservoir. Keep following this path down to reach a beck. Cross the beck and continue back along the reservoir to the car park.

For a step by step route, read below. You can also check out the route HERE.

Start Point: Mardale Head Car Park

1. Head through the gate at the end of the road and follow the path to the right around the reservoir.
2. As you’re passing the pine forest on your right, take the path on your left and begin the ascent. You should notice a path and a stile into the forest on your right; take the path opposite this.
3. Follow this path. As you continue upwards, you should had a drystone wall on your right for the majority, the tarn should be on the left and you should pass through a gate.
4. The path begins to get rocky along the ridge. As you begin the final ascent to High Street, the drystone wall bends away to the right.
5. Head down from the peak to the right. Eventually, a path appears on the right through a gap in the wall. Take the path on the right, moving away from the wall.
6. Continue to follow this path, keeping right as you approach Kidtsy Pike.
7. Continue down the descent which comes to a beck in the bottom of the valley. Cross the bridge over the beck.
8. Head towards the woodland as the path bends left. Skirt the woodland and head uphill towards the pine forest that you passed at the start of the walk.
9. At the crest of the hill, you should recognise where you are. Follow the path back alongside the reservoir to the car part.

End Point: Mardale Head Car Park

Will you be doing this walk?

Amie x