HAYSTACKS 1958FT
SITUATED IN THE SOUTH-EASTERN FELLS IN THE BUTTERMERE VALLEY
WHERE ALFRED WAINWRIGHT HAD HIS ASHES SCATTERED
LAKE DISTRICT
PARKING-CA13 9XA GATESGARTH FARM BUTTERMERE
MILES- 5 MILE CIRCULAR WALK
ASCENT-600m approx
FACILITIES- SOMETIMES A VAN AT THE FARM SELLING DRINKS AND ICE CREAM, TOILETS IN THE MAIN CAR PARK AT BUTTERMERE
TERRAIN-PATHLESS SUMMIT/MINOR SCRAMBLING IN SHORT SECTIONS BUT NOT TOO DIFFICULT
ABOUT THE WALK
This is one of our favourite Wainwright walks and one of our first ones when Niyah was 5, before we even started ticking off the 214 in 2017/18
From the car park at Gatesgarth Farm , cross the road and go through the gate next to the farmyard entrance. Signposted Buttermere and Ennerdale. Follow the path through the fields, over Peggy's bridge, and climb the steep path alongside the trees., on a clear day this section is clear to follow and rises across the hillside
When you reach the wide Scarth Gap the middle section between two hills you turn left.
This section starts to climb roughly, and is marked by cairns, the higher up you climb the steeper and rougher the paths becomes with some sections rocky.
At the summit there is two sections and a tarn in between, we took photos on each cairn marker, Niyah loved the little scrambles on this and nothing was too difficult.
As you cross the summits you will pick up a path on the left that heads down into the valley, some sections are loose stones but its a clear path down to join the path back to the car park.
It can be a busy walk, especially at weekends and holidays so would recommend getting there early.
MORE DETAILS AND MAP
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/england/cumbria/haystacks-from-gatesgarth