Haystacks
Area: The Northern Fells
Posted By: graham
This modest mountain occupies an important position at the head of theButtermere valley and is surrounded by a diverse and interesting range
of peaks. To the south is the towering crags of the Pillar range whilst
to the north is the slightly friendlier, but no less grand, hills of
the Newlands range and for good measure it stands shoulder to shoulder
with Great Gable and High Stile. With such a close-in and extensive
panorama you will not be surprised to find out, once you have stood
amongst the intimate rocks of its crest, Haystacks was one of Alfred
Wainwright's favorite peaks
The height gain of this walk is not huge, so it's perfectly possible to
add a bit more distance to the walk to get it up to get it up to a
fuller day, and what better way to do this than a walk through the
woods of Birkness and around the shores of the attractive and gentle
shores of Buttermere.
Terrain Steep-sided valley, pasture, woods, rocky packhorse track,
broad col, rocky mountain ridge, tarns, steep valley head, valley road
and lakeside path.
1.
From Buttermere village follow the bridleway SW past the hotels and
easily round the farm lane to a bridge at the outlet of Buttermere. At
this point there is some confusion as several tracks and paths meet;
you should follow around the corner of the lake and pick up the
bridleway that heads SE climbing gently through the woods (not the
steep bridleway that climbs steeply S up to Bleaberry Tarn).
2. Once past the SE end of the lake you will reach a junction. Turn R
and follow the bridleway that climbs first W then S and climbs to
Scarth Gap.
3. At the col at Scarth Gap leave the bridleway and pickup the path that climbs E to the summit of Haystacks.
4. From Haystacks continue along the path heading ESE first to Innominate Tarn then to Blackbeck Tarn.
5. Crossing the outlet of Blackbeck Tarn the path turns ENE and works
its way round the rough fellside to the head of Warnscale Beck. Cross
Warnscale Beck and join the bridleway on the other side.
6. This bridleway is an old packhorse route that connects the quarries
at Dubs with the Buttermere valley. Turn L onto the bridleway and
follow it as it descends steadily into Warnscale Bottom. You get a
close up view of the impressive North Face of Haystacks from here.
7. From Warnscale Bottom join the B5289 valley road and follow it NW
for 900m to the start of the Hasness permissive path on the L. Leave
the road and follow the permissive path round the lake to a junction
with a bridleway at the northern end of the lake. Turn R onto the
bridleway and follow it to a junction with another bridleway. Turn L
and head N back into Buttermere village.
Route Grade Medium
Start Point Buttermere
(Map Ref: NY175170)
Finish Point Buttermere
(Map Ref: NY175170)
Distance 7.7miles
Maps to Use OS Landranger 89 & 90, OS Explorer OL 4, Harveys' Superwalker Lakeland West (1:25000)
Approx Time 3 - 4 hours
