Weekly Route - Hartsop Horseshoe, Lakes

Walking Route - Hartsop Horseshoe, Lakes

Hartsop > Hartsop Dodd > Thornthwaite Crag > Hartsop

Average Time: 4 hours

Distance: 6 miles (9.7km)	Height Gain: 2957 ft (902m)
At just 6 miles the Hartsop Horseshoe isn't going to be an all-dayer, but for a half day walk there's few better locations to escape the crowds, with views of Helvellyn, High Street and Fairfield.	Maps: Landranger 90, Explorer OL5 Online: Streetmap
Strenuousness: 2 Technicality: 1 Photo Grade: 2	Start Point: NN 410 130

There's something special about walking a horseshoe route, a sort of feeling of completeness that's somehow missing in other circular routes. The Lake District is well endowed with horseshoes, from Mosedale to Fairfield, and in the summer months these classics become pedestrian motorways.

Between the Fairfield Horseshoe and the equally popular High Street lies a smaller, less frequented, alternative. At just six miles the Hartsop Horseshoe isn't going to be an all-dayer, but for a half-day walk there are few better locations to escape the crowds, with views of Helvellyn, High Street and Fairfield.

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Section 1: Hartsop to Thornthwaite Crag

Distance: 3.2 miles (5.2km)

Height Gain: 2810 ft (857m)

Average Time: 2 hours 45 mins

From Hartsop village take the marked footpath to Hayeswater Gill and cross the stream. A stile leads into a small enclosure where the path follows the wall to the open fells beyond a gate.

The start is steep and relentless as you gain height quickly to join the ridge of Hartsop Dodd. Although not the wide carriageway of some of the surrounding hills the path remains clear and obvious as you climb first to a false summit and then the true top of Hartsop Dodd, where a short section of wall guides the way.

The view from Hartsop Dodd towards Brothers Water
by Steve Walton - OM album

Hartsop Dodd is one of those strange hill that viewed from below looks like a distinct hill, but when you reach the top it seems little more than a stepping stone to the real fells above.

The descent on the far side of the ridge is only a little over 200ft before the climb starts again to Stoney Cove Pike. A wall guides the descent before you face the stiff 500ft slog to a flat plateau with more than its fair share of cairns.

The important guide here is where the wall from the highest point is joined to its north by the remains of an old wall. This marks the start of the descent of Threshthwaite Mouth, which drops steeply then ,as is the way with this route,climbs equally steeply towards one of the Lakes' most prominant landmarks.

Thornhwaite Beacon looking moody - great shot by Neil Higgins
from his OM album

The Beacon on Thornthwaite Crag can be seen for miles around, and the wall up from Threshthwaite Mouth leads you almost directly to it. Ahead lies High Street, with behind you views of Brotherswater and the Helvellyn range.

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Section 2: Thornthwaite Crag to Hartsop

Distance: 2.8 miles (4.5km)

Height Gain: 147 ft (45m)

Average Time: 1 hour 15 mins

From Thornthwaite Crag head north, alongside a wall to where a path heads left, away from the ridge. Ignore the path and keep on the main ridge for a mile.

A small rise follows before the real summit of Gray Crag is reached. The summit is unmarked but the highest point is gemnerally accepted as being where a wall crosses the ridge. Off to the right lies Hayeswater, but the wiews just beyond the wall reveal Ullswater and Helvellyn.

Neil Higgins again, this time looking across at the Troutbeck Hills.
From the left: Red Screes, Caudale Moor/Stony Cove Pike, T
hornthwaite Crag, Froswick, Ill Bell - OM album

The route now follows the ridge downhill, meandering here and there before a final stile brings the marked path to a halt. Continue downhill on steep and slippy grass to join the remnants of a wall continuing north west to join the wide and well trodden path heading left back into Hartsop.

Although only a short walk in distance the Hartsop Horseshoe not only promises peace and quiet away from the more popular routes, but with 500ft of ascent per mile gives a rapid ascent to the the most eastern of the Lake's big fells, and the views are as fine as anywher in the area.

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Note: Average time ratings are calculated for a notional average walker and take height gain into account. You may be faster or slower than the notional average, but they provide a starting point.

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