So Haystacks won, which shows that those who voted had some idea what they are doing, I've never been on Haystacks without a covering of cloud so it's not my favorite.
I'd go for Harrison Stickle with Cat Bells running a close second.
I actually like Haystacks. It's a very interesting fell with lots of little nooks and crannies, tarns, knolls. It's a fantastic place for practising micro navigation, especially in the clag. It has wonderful views, from one side you can see straight down Buttermere, through to Crummock, Loweswater and even as far as Scotland. From the top you can also see the Langdales, Great Gable, the Scafells, and the Ennerdale fells.
It's also part of my favourite walk which takes in Fleetwith Pike, Haystacks and the High Stile Ridge.
However, my favourite fell is Glaramara. It's like a larger version of Haystacks but quieter. It consists of two ridges with Coombe Gill running up between them. Because it's not very well frequented, it doesn't suffer from the huge motorway type paths that a lot of fells in the Lakes do.
Hmm I like Glaramara to, it's a good view point as well as a lovley hill. Blencathra is possibly up there too, it's a great hill but maybe is a bit too close to the road (can hear traffic noise when you're on the top).
I like the Langdale Pikes. Quick to get up for a little walk, great views, and they were the first fells I climbed alone (a few years back!). However, the masses of people is a downside.
I also like Steeple for it's views down Ennerdale.
I like Haystacks because, as Lorraine said, it's an interesting little fell.
I like High Street too, cos I get a sense of remoteness when I'm up that way.
I also like Grasmoor and the fells around there.
I also like Coniston Old Man, as it was the first fell I ever went up - my dad took me up when I was about 5 or something like that. There was an unseasonal blizzard on the way down and I loved it. It is one of my most vivid memories of childhood. I can almost still taste the chocolate bar I was eating as the snow fell all around us!
I've never really been that excited by Blencathra or Skiddaw. Not sure why.
And I have fond memories of Ullscarf. It is not most people's favourite (far from it!), but the time me and my father first climbed it there was deep snow underfoot and blizzards non-stop as we went up from Watendlath. No views whatsoever, but one of my favourite little walks ever.
I guess people's favourites depend on individual circumstances, or the conditions when you first climbed it etc.
And I do wonder, do a lot of people vote for Haystacks because they think they should? It's widely known that it was Wainwright's favourite, and that his ashes were scattered there. I sometimes get the impression that a lot of people choose it for that reason alone. Having said that, it is a fine little mountain.
I like Haystacks too. I worked at Black Sail for a week last summer and spent my free afternoons exploring the hills surrounding Ennerdale. I knew nothing about the area, but would stand at the hostel door and decide which top to aim for depending which one was free of cloud. One day I followed the River Liza upwards, scrambled up to the top of Great Gable then walked round to Haystacks before dropping back down to the hostel. After the crowds on Great Gable, Haystacks was silent and peaceful and I was stunned by the unexpected beauty of the tarns and the little miniature landscapes. One of the pictures I took is my current desktop image - wonderful.
My personal favourite is Lingmoor Fell. It is an inauspicious little mound that separates Lt. Landgale from the Gt. Langdale, but it is a great place to camp. It has all sorts of false summits, small crags and protective lees for camping and a camp fire. You get a fantastic view of Wetherlam and the Crinkle Crags on the Southern side (the best side), and also benefit from the glorious sun on a good day. It's a bit of a straight up slog to get up there, but it doesn't take long.
I last camped there with my Dad, before I went to uni. It was fantastic, and it was so clear that night, we could see the Blackpool illuminations. On a truely clear day, I have been told you can see North Wales and the Isle of Man, but I'm not too sure about that.
That's my vote; there are other fantastic fells to be sure, but this is a little number that you can spend a goodly amount of time on.
It's so hard to choose as I have many favourites. The Langdales, Coniston, Great Gable, Helvellyn, Haystacks (I think John always climbs Haystacks at the same time as me as I've always found it covered in a bit of a cloud......or maybe the cloud just follows me :-).
Surprisingly, Loughrigg is a little Gem, has a bit of everything and great views across Windermere.
Nope, still can't decide on a true favourite BUT the my most hated is without question SKIDDAW...I hate it with a passion, it so grim and boring!!!
The Isle of Man is clearly visible from the Lake District if it's not too hazy. On very clear days you can, indeed, see the mountains of Snowdonia in north Wales.
Is everyone deliberately avoiding mentioning the obvious 'big one' because it's only for tourists? Doesn't anyone think it's a stunning walk from Wasdale? Although I'm fairly new to this, and haven't experienced many other Lakeland fells, surely Scafell Pike has a bit of everything, particularly if you don't stick to the standard paths. The views of all the surrounding fells is spectacular. Imagine if it wasn't as busy, and you'd never read or listened to anyone elses opinions of it. Am I the only one to chose it as my favorite? Until I find something better (I'll have to give some of the other favorites a try first). PS. Isle of Man was clearly visible from the Pike (and not just the summit) when I was there about 10 days ago.
There is no really easy way up so the crowds are kept away, it stands alone and it is the only place in the valley where you can get a decent view of Scafell, Scafell Pike, the Screes, Great Gable, Kirkfell and Pillar all in one frame. On any other fell there is always something obscuring the view of at least one of them.
It is peacefull and offers great wild camping with fantastic sunsets and great sunrises
Blencathra for me. Never had a bad day on that fell. I have enjoyed every route I have done.
To my shame I have not been up Haystacks. I intend to have two weeks in the Lakes this summer so I will put it on my "to do list". So what is the best way up?
Peter H - there are lots of ways up Haystacks but my favourite, which allows you to expand the route if you feel like it, is to start at Buttermere Village and walk along the lakeshore until you get to Gatesgarth Farm at the southern end of the lake (the path on the western side of the lake is nicer than the eastern side). Once you've reached Gatesgarth, take the steep steep path up Fleetwith Pike, marked as Fleetwith Edge on the maps. Once you're at the summit, head for Dubs Quarry, Blackbeck Tarn and Haystacks.
You now have a choice, you can either descend back down to the lake via Scarth Gap Pass or continue over Seat and upto High Crag via Gamlin End (another steep climb - but much easier to go up than descend), then along the High Stile ridge to Red Pike.
From Red Pike you can either descend via the Saddle and Burtness Wood to the lake, or continue along the ridge and descend via Scale Force and walk back to Buttermere village.
Another way is to start at Honister Hause, where the slate mine is and walk along to Dubs Quarry and up to Haystacks - returning the same way to avoid a long up hill walk along the road back to Honister Pass.
Lorraine, thanks for taking the trouble to respond. I had a look at one of the Wainwwright/Derry Brabbs books last night to get some inspiration before turning the light off. I think that the route AW describes as his favourite way up Haystacks is the same as you describe from Buttermere. I make a solemn and public promise. Come the summer I am going to do it. I will. I promise. I have said so. Unless I do the less strenuous route from Honister Hause.
Agree with Guy, a clear spring day on Yewbarrow is fantastic.
Although I have fond memories of Cat Bells as its the first hill I went up and sort of got me hooked. But I'm not sure if its a Wainwright or not - anyone know?
Yes. It nestles between Castle Crag and Causey Pike in The North Western Fells. AW prefers it spelt as one word (noting that the OS use two words) and dedicates 10 pages to it.
"Words cannot adequately describe the rare charm of Catbells, nor its ravishing view" so it probably would have ranked reasonably high on his list of fells.
PLEASE! NO MORE HUMAN ASHES IN WATENDLATH! WE ARE UP TO OUR KNEES HERE. THE TOP OF THE FELL CAN BE COVERED IN ASH,CARDS,FLOWERS IN PLASTIC-LEFT-CANDLES IN GLASS JARS,GOD HELP OUR SHEEP!! YES,I KNOW ITS A LOVELY PLACE AND IM EVER SO LUCKY TO LIVE HERE-FOR THE ONE MILLIONTH TIME-AND YOUR LOVED ONES EXPRESSED A WISH...BUT PLACE THEM AWAY FROM THE POPULAR AREAS,WHO WANTS THERE 5YR OLD COMING IN AFTER PLAYING OUTDOORS COVERED TOP TO TOE IN ASH!! BY ALL MEANS DO,BUT THINK,JUST FOR A MINUTE OF US FAMILIES WHO LIVE HERE. THANKYOU.
