Fairfield Horseshoe
Distance: 20.5km
Ascent: 1079m
Duration: 8 Hours 46 Minutes
This epic walk is well known within the Lake District and on a day like today it was the perfect choice! Literal 4 seasons in 1 day with glorious sunshine, dense cloud and snow flurries!
Early morning between Ambleside and Rydal with clearing skies and clear fells. A beautiful crisp morning.
Rydal Beck.
Following the steps up to Nab Scar.
Looking back to the sunrise and Windermere.
Mirror finish to Rydal Water with a clear view to Loughrigg Fell and the Coniston Fells.
Reflections in Rydal Water.
Breathtaking views to the south west.
Grasmere (Lake and village) surrounded by high fells. Coniston Old Man across to Bowfell in the background.
The summit cairn on Wainwright No.1 - Nab Scar.
Pike O' Blisco, Crinkle Crags, Bowfell and the Langdale Pikes.
The summit cairn looking to Heron Pike.
The Coniston Fells and Harter Fell (right at the back).
Crinkle Crags and Bowfell across Grasmere.
Looking back to Windermere.
Bowfell and the Langdale Pikes with Scafell Pike in the background.
Heron Pike summit in the sunshine with some distant clouds forming...
The ridge of Helm Crag up to Gibson Knott and Calf Crag.
The higher cairn on Heron Pike.
The upper end of the Fairfield Horseshoe.
A view back along the ridge to the south.
Wintery conditions inbound from the west.
The summit cairn on Great Rigg.
A view across to Seat Sandal and over to Helvellyn.
Helvellyn and Striding Edge.
The path up to Fairfield.
Fairfield summit. The wind-chill up here was about -10C.
My route towards Hart Crag.
St Sunday Crag. It was about here the snow started to fall...
And by the time I got to Hart Crag everywhere was white. The Down Jacket was needed here!
Looking back to the snowy fells.
Dove Crag summit in the sunshine.
Descending down to High Pike with breathtaking wintery conditions ahead.
High Pike summit.
I captured some timelapse shots from here - take a look at the video to see!
Rapidly melting snow as I head to Low Pike.
Low Pike summit.
A final view back to High Pike before descending down into Ambleside.
