A cracking winter walking route in the Lakes starting from Sykeside campsite below the Kirkstone Pass and taking in Fairfield with five Wainwrights and some great views thrown in.
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Sykeside> Fairfield > Dove
Crag > High Hartsop Dodd > Sykeside
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Distance: 7.6miles
(12.35Km)
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Height Gain: Height Gain: 3030 ft (925
m)
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Overview: A winter circular from the
popular Sykeside campsite to Fairfield and back via High
Hartsop Dodd.
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Maps: Ordnance Survey: Explorer
OL5
Online: Streetmap
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Strenuousness: 3
Technicality: 2
Photogenicness: 3
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Start Point: NY
402 118
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A popular Lakeland circuit for winter walkers based at Sykeside,
ideal when the days are short. For the Wainwright baggers it's an
ideal route to add five ticks to your list. If the weather's bad
there's the option to miss out the section between Dove Crag and
Fairfield, and still get stunning views down to Windermere and up to
Helvellyn...
Section 1 - Sykeside to Hart Crag
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Distance: 2.72 miles (
4.38Km)
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Height Gain: 2200 ft (
972m)
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From the camp site take the obvious path west, over the cattle
grids, to Hartsop Hall. Turn left here and follow the path south east
to join the lower part of
Dovedale Beck. The path
now ascends the flank of
Dove Crag, with the beck a
few yards to your right, passing a couple of small waterfalls before
it curves left into the upper parts of Dovedale - below.
After crossing the stream turn sharp right up the obvious gully
that takes you from Dovedale up to Houdshope Cove
and a temporary respite. From Houndshope Cove the path heads south
west to the col between Dove Crag (on the left)
and Hart Crag (right). Turn right along the obvious
ridge path for the ascent up to Hart Crag, the first
Wainwright on the route.
Section 2 - Hart Crag to Dove
Crag
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Distance: 2.27miles
(3.66Km)
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Height Gain: 716ft
(218m)
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From
Hart Crag the route drops slightly to
LInk Hause, high above Link Cove and views down
Deepdale. The climb up from Link Hause starts steeply but soon the
gradient lessens as you finish the 300ft of height gain to the summit
of
Fairfield.
Here the views south towards Rydal and Ambleside are stunning,
with the horseshoe of High and Low
Pikes (left) and Great Rigg/Heron Pike
(right) laid out before you and Windermere in the distance. From the
summit of Fairfield retrace your steps down to Hart
Crag, and on thew where you approached from Dovedale.
Continue straight ahead on a well defined path to take in the summit
of Dove Crag.
Section 3 - Dove Crag to Sykeside
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Distance: 2.68 miles
(4.31Km)
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Height Gain: 114ft
(35m)
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At
Dove Crag the path splits in two, with
the right hand branch heading down the east side of the Fairfield
Horseshoe to High Pike. Instead take the left branch south west to
join a wall. Follow the wall as it hugs the ridge, turning left then
right, to a point (
NY
386 100) where a small path heads off north east to the obvious
summit rocks of
Little Hart Crag (Wainwright 4).
From Here the route continues north east along the crest to
High Hartsop Dodd above (Wainwright 5), and views
back down over Sykeside to Brotherswater. From High Hartsop
Dodd the path takes a steep, but grassy, descent down the
north east ridge that dominates the view south from the camp site.
The final section of the walk follows the signposts back to Hartsop
Hall and the easy track back to the camp site. .
