Ambleside to Threlkeld - Saturday 2 August 2025
Route
Ambleside - The Struggle - Snarker Pike - Red Screes - Scandale Pass - Little Hart Crag - High Bakestones - Dove Crag - Hart Crag - Scrubby Crag - Fairfield - Grisedale Tarn - Dollywaggon Pike - High Crag - Nethermost Pike - Helvellyn - Lower Man - White Side - Raise - Sticks Pass - Stybarrow Dodd - Watson's Dodd - Great Dodd - Clough Head - Hausewell Brow - Newsham - Threlkeld
Parking
Several ways of achieving this but the majority of us caught the bus from Keswick to Ambleside and arranged lifts back to Keswick or caught the bus from the finish in Threlkeld.
Mileage
20.1 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths throughout apart from the last section from below Threlkeld Knotts to Newsham whereby the path is intermittent. The path from below Cofa Pike to Grisedale Tarn is not marked on the OS Map.
Weather
Superb - extremely warm with the lightest of breezes
Time Taken
11hrs 50mins (started at 0800 from Ambleside)
Total Ascent
6870ft (m)
Wainwrights
14
Map
OL5 The English Lakes (North Eastern Area) & OL7 The English Lakes (South Eastern Area)
Walkers
Dave with 12 members of Lakeland Meet Ups
Ambleside - The Struggle - Snarker Pike - Red Screes - Scandale Pass - Little Hart Crag - High Bakestones - Dove Crag - Hart Crag - Scrubby Crag - Fairfield - Grisedale Tarn - Dollywaggon Pike - High Crag - Nethermost Pike - Helvellyn - Lower Man - White Side - Raise - Sticks Pass - Stybarrow Dodd - Watson's Dodd - Great Dodd - Clough Head - Hausewell Brow - Newsham - Threlkeld
Parking
Several ways of achieving this but the majority of us caught the bus from Keswick to Ambleside and arranged lifts back to Keswick or caught the bus from the finish in Threlkeld.
Mileage
20.1 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths throughout apart from the last section from below Threlkeld Knotts to Newsham whereby the path is intermittent. The path from below Cofa Pike to Grisedale Tarn is not marked on the OS Map.
Weather
Superb - extremely warm with the lightest of breezes
Time Taken
11hrs 50mins (started at 0800 from Ambleside)
Total Ascent
6870ft (m)
Wainwrights
14
Map
OL5 The English Lakes (North Eastern Area) & OL7 The English Lakes (South Eastern Area)
Walkers
Dave with 12 members of Lakeland Meet Ups
GPX Files
From 1 March 2025 GPX files will not be available directly from the walk page as there is difficulty in using a downloadable version from the website. To that end, if you require a GPX File please get in touch via the Contact Form below and we will gladly forward it to you - thank you.
From 1 March 2025 GPX files will not be available directly from the walk page as there is difficulty in using a downloadable version from the website. To that end, if you require a GPX File please get in touch via the Contact Form below and we will gladly forward it to you - thank you.
Route Map
The start of the walk at the Market Cross in Ambleside with my 12 walking companions - left to right Steve McCarron, Trev Bailey, David Morby, Moyra Robertson, Hilary Carruthers, Nigel Palmer, Lisa Sims, Helen Atkinson, Pam Sumner, Catrina Hudson, Dot Kane & Sara Boyle
The walk today was one I organised and led via the Lakeland Meet Ups Facebook group. The route is the first leg of a walk called the Triple Spine Lakeland Challenge (TSLC), the brainchild of a friend of mine Richard Jennings. A link to the TSLC page can be found here and a link to my own attempt which I completed in 2017 is here.
The walk today was one I organised and led via the Lakeland Meet Ups Facebook group. The route is the first leg of a walk called the Triple Spine Lakeland Challenge (TSLC), the brainchild of a friend of mine Richard Jennings. A link to the TSLC page can be found here and a link to my own attempt which I completed in 2017 is here.
Leaving Ambleside the route starts off with a beast of a climb out of the village up the Kirkstone Road, also known as The Struggle. Talking to some of my walking companions later, they reckoned that at just under a mile uphill that this was the hardest climb of the entire day!
At last, after what seemed like an eternity a gate is reached on the left at Grid Reference NY 38565 05350
Heading out from The Struggle on the main route to Red Screes with Wansfell to the rear and Windermere to the right
Windermere and Ambleside with the Coniston Fells over to the right
The path continues between the field walls of an old drove way as we head up towards Snarker Pike
The route crosses a large field stile and continues on to the left between outcrops
The Coniston Fells centre left with Crinkle Crags & Bowfell over to the right
The Fairfield Horseshoe summits of Nab Scar, Heron Pike, Great Rigg, Dove Crag, High Pike & Low Pike
Rydal Water now in view as we continue on towards Snarker Pike
Approaching Snarker Pike
Looking down to the Kirkstone Pass & Inn. St Raven's Edge is above the Inn with Ill Bell & Yoke beyond. The road coming in from the lower right is The Struggle which we walked part way up earlier.
Approaching the summit of Red Screes - our boy Fudge loved to swim in the tarn here
Looking north over Middle Dodd to Brothers Water from the summit of Red Screes
Middle Dodd from Red Screes - we could have added this one in and made it 15 Wainwrights in one day although to be fair I think we had enough on our plate already
The group on the summit of Red Screes
From Red Screes our onward route stretches out in the distance as far away as Fairfield & Helvellyn. The top of the Scandale Pass is below in the dip with Scandale Tarn just left of centre with Little Hart Crag, our next summit to the right of it.
The top of the Scandale Pass below with Little Hart Crag beyond
The group approaching the summit of Little Hart Crag with High Bakestones & Dove Crag beyond
The summit of Little Hart Crag
From Little Hart Crag most walkers head over to Dove Crag via the path to the right. However today I would be taking a different route via High Bakestones which is over to the centre left.
Leaving Little Hart Crag en route to High Bakestones
The approach to High Bakestones with Little Hart Crag distant - the path to Dove Crag is over to the left
The large cairn on the summit of High Bakestones
From High Bakestones the route heads over good ground to reach a broken wall that runs between High Pike & Dove Crag on the Fairfield Horseshoe - we would be turning right here
The 3rd Wainwright of today - the summit of Dove Crag
A few miles in and everyone is still smiling on the summit of Dove Crag
From Dove Crag there is a short walk of just over half a mile to reach Hart Crag
Dovedale from the approach to Hart Crag
Time for a breather on the summit of Hart Crag
Leaving Hart Crag we were now off to Fairfield which is over to the left, Scrubby Crag centre and St Sunday Crag to the right
Deepdale
Hart Crag from the approach to Fairfield
Looking into Rydal from the head of the valley with Windermere distant, Heron Pike centre & Great Rigg to the right
The Helvellyn range from the approach to Fairfield
The summit of Fairfield with St Sunday Crag beyond
Bannerside below St Sunday Crag from Fairfield
Cofa Pike with St Sunday Crag beyond
There are several options from Fairfield to reach Grisedale Tarn. Firstly (Route 1), the main path to Hause Gap can be taken which, whilst well used is steep and over loose stone. Secondly (Route 2) is to descend to the col below Cofa Pike then turn right on a path that heads across the fell side to the north eastern end of the tarn (this was the route we used today). Thirdly (Route 3), climb Cofa Pike and descend to Grisedale Tarn via the path from Deepdale Hause.
The Route 2 path is not marked on the OS Map.
The Route 2 path is not marked on the OS Map.
The Helvellyn Range stretches out in front of us - the zig zag path up Dollywaggon Pike can clearly be seen with Nethermost Pike, Helvellyn, Striding Edge and the tip of Catstycam in view beyond.
The path heading in from the left is one that can be taken from a hundred or so yards on Route 1
The path heading in from the left is one that can be taken from a hundred or so yards on Route 1
Grisedale Tarn now in view with Seat Sandal over to the left and the lower slopes of Dollywaggon Pike to the right
Descending to Grisedale Tarn via Route 2 with our path up Dollywaggon Pike via the zig zags now visible
A closer look at the huge bulk of Dollywaggon Pike as we near the tarn
Reaching Grisedale Tarn, the outflow is crossed via a set of stepping stones
Seat Sandal across Grisedale Tarn as we start our ascent of Dollywaggon Pike
The zig zag path up Dollywaggon Pike starts off at a very pleasant gradient however the steepness soon increases
Looking back down the zig zags across Grisedale Tarn to Fairfield. The three descent routes from Fairfield mentioned earlier can now be seen.
Continuing the climb to Dollywaggon Pike via the zig zags. Great Rigg can be seen over to the left with Seat Sandal centre right.
Grisedale from the top of the zig zags with Birkhouse Moor over to the left, Ullswater & Place Fell distant with St Sunday Crag to the right
The post at the top of the zig zags which is marked on the OS Map - 4 paths meet here. To the left out of shot is the path coming up from the south from the western side of Grisedale Tarn, the next two paths head for Helvellyn and the one on the extreme right leads to Dollywaggon Pike's summit.
The classic view from the summit of Dollywaggon Pike across Ruthwaite Cove to High Crag, Nethermost Pike, Helvellyn, Catstycam, Striding Edge & High Spying How
The summit of Dollywaggon Pike looking to St Sunday Crag
Cofa Pike, Fairfield & Great Rigg over Cock Cove
Leaving Dollywaggon Pike there now begins a superb high level transit of the Helvellyn range
Looking back to Dollywaggon Pike as we head to High Crag
Ruthwaite Cove below with St Sunday Crag dominating the view. The small body of water below is Hard Tarn.
Nethermost Crag with Nethermost Pike beyond from High Crag
The summit of Nethermost Pike with Helvellyn over to the left - Catstycam is centre with Striding Edge in shadow
Lad Crag on Helvellyn, Striding Edge & High Spying How
Whilst I wandered off the main route over to the top of Striding Edge, the remainder of the group headed to the summit of Helvellyn
The beautiful panorama from near Helvellyn's summit - Swirral Edge, Catstycam, Birkhouse Moor, High Spying How & Striding Edge encircle Red Tarn
A closer look at Striding Edge with St Sunday Crag centre right
The Gough Memorial at the top of Striding Edge
The Gough Memorial commemorates a fatal fall down the east face of Helvellyn in wintry conditions in the spring of 1805. Charles Gough was a Manchester artist who set out to climb Helvellyn with only his faithful dog Foxie for company. He failed to return. At the beginning of the 19th century, fell-walking and mountaineering for pleasure were relatively new pursuits and Gough, alone on the mountains had no specialist clothing or kit. Three months later a shepherd came across a dog barking and beside her lay the remains of her unfortunate master. Foxie, an Irish Terrier, loyal to the end had remained with her master and some accounts report that not only had the dog survived but had a pup that didn’t make it. A Carlisle newspaper had reported: ‘The bitch had pupped in a furze near the body of her master.’ On a darker note, the same report concluded that the dog ‘shocking to relate, had torn the clothes from his body and eaten him to a perfect skeleton.’ Some reports speculated that ravens had attacked the body, while others stated that the body was untouched by mountain animal or bird.
The Gough Memorial commemorates a fatal fall down the east face of Helvellyn in wintry conditions in the spring of 1805. Charles Gough was a Manchester artist who set out to climb Helvellyn with only his faithful dog Foxie for company. He failed to return. At the beginning of the 19th century, fell-walking and mountaineering for pleasure were relatively new pursuits and Gough, alone on the mountains had no specialist clothing or kit. Three months later a shepherd came across a dog barking and beside her lay the remains of her unfortunate master. Foxie, an Irish Terrier, loyal to the end had remained with her master and some accounts report that not only had the dog survived but had a pup that didn’t make it. A Carlisle newspaper had reported: ‘The bitch had pupped in a furze near the body of her master.’ On a darker note, the same report concluded that the dog ‘shocking to relate, had torn the clothes from his body and eaten him to a perfect skeleton.’ Some reports speculated that ravens had attacked the body, while others stated that the body was untouched by mountain animal or bird.
On the summit of Helvellyn, our 8th Wainwright of the day...............
........... and a little further along the ridge at the Trig Point
Red Tarn, Striding Edge & Helvellyn's summit from near the Trig Point
Keppel Cove to the left, Swirral Edge & Catstycam with Ullswater beyond
Helvellyn Lower Man from the top of Swirral Edge with our path to White Side beyond
The summit of Helvellyn Lower Man looking to White Side - in the far centre distance is our final summit for today, Clough Head
Looking into Brown Cove over to Catstycam, Swirral Edge & Helvellyn
Descending from Helvellyn Lower Man before the short rise up to White Side. Raise is over to the right with Blencathra a distant left.
Catstycam and its impressive north west ridge across Brown Cove. We have climbed Catstycam via this route a few times and the walk reports from two of those occasions can be found here and here.
From Lower Man the path descends steeply to a col to then climb gently to the summit of White Side
The summit of White Side looking to Skiddaw & Blencathra
Approaching Raise looking back to Helvellyn, Brown Cove, Lower Man & White Side. The path heading off to the left is the Keppel Cove route back to Glenridding & Patterdale.
The summit of Raise now in view as we approach Wainwright number 10
The summit of Raise
From Raise the route descends to meet up with the Sticks Pass in the col below. Ahead of us is Stybarrow Dodd which we would reach by branching off to the right from the main path heading up the fell.
The name "Sticks Pass" originates from when its course was marked by a line of large wooden stakes. The stakes, or "sticks", would have provided a handrail to the traveller at times when the path was obscured by deep snow.
The name "Sticks Pass" originates from when its course was marked by a line of large wooden stakes. The stakes, or "sticks", would have provided a handrail to the traveller at times when the path was obscured by deep snow.
Looking back to Raise and the Sticks Pass junction as we climb to Stybarrow Dodd
The cairn near the summit of Stybarrow Dodd - the highest point of the fell is 15m SE of the cairn
From Stybarrow Dodd we followed the long sweeping path over to the next summit of Watson's Dodd
The summit of Watson's Dodd looking to Skiddaw & Blencathra
Looking back to Watson's Dodd as we head for our penultimate Wainwright of the day - Great Dodd
Up on Great Dodd's summit plateau looking to Clough Head with Skiddaw & Blencathra distant. The highest point of Great Dodd lies 30m SSE of this large cairn.
Rowantree Beck below as we make our way over to the 14th & final Wainwright - Clough Head
Ascending Clough Head looking back over to Great Dodd which is to the left - the small mound right of centre is Calfhow Pike
The summit of Clough Head
Clough Head has an affinity with the global superstar Sting. He cut his teeth in the teaching profession below Clough Head at Threlkeld School and was given a tough decision to make following an assessment as to his future employment. He clearly did well at the school, so much so that they offered him a permanent position. The following extract from his book explains the thought process behind what was clearly a tough decision for him:
“The teaching practice is a success, largely because Mr Sturridge seems to like me, so much so as to offer me a permanent job there in the autumn term. He tells me that the kids like me too. I’m very flattered and I thank him for the compliment, but ask for some time to consider the offer. That evening I climb up to the top of Clough Head. On the crest of the high ridge I turn back and I can see my life spread out like the valley below me: growing old like Mr. Sturridge, a village teacher, gray-headed and stooped, with worn leather patches on the elbows of my jacket, going home each night to a stone cottage on the hillside with an older Megan standing in the garden, roses in a trellis around the front door, a wood fire in the hearth, my books and my music, idealized, peaceful, devoid of complexity or worry or the vanity of ambition. Whatever is comforting about this image of a possible future, however different it is from the harsh industrial landscape of my childhood, it holds me for no more than a moment and then it is gone. I know the answer I shall give the headmaster, and as the evening draws in I make my way at a brisker pace down the mountain to my digs in the village.”
― Sting, Broken Music: A Memoir
Clough Head has an affinity with the global superstar Sting. He cut his teeth in the teaching profession below Clough Head at Threlkeld School and was given a tough decision to make following an assessment as to his future employment. He clearly did well at the school, so much so that they offered him a permanent position. The following extract from his book explains the thought process behind what was clearly a tough decision for him:
“The teaching practice is a success, largely because Mr Sturridge seems to like me, so much so as to offer me a permanent job there in the autumn term. He tells me that the kids like me too. I’m very flattered and I thank him for the compliment, but ask for some time to consider the offer. That evening I climb up to the top of Clough Head. On the crest of the high ridge I turn back and I can see my life spread out like the valley below me: growing old like Mr. Sturridge, a village teacher, gray-headed and stooped, with worn leather patches on the elbows of my jacket, going home each night to a stone cottage on the hillside with an older Megan standing in the garden, roses in a trellis around the front door, a wood fire in the hearth, my books and my music, idealized, peaceful, devoid of complexity or worry or the vanity of ambition. Whatever is comforting about this image of a possible future, however different it is from the harsh industrial landscape of my childhood, it holds me for no more than a moment and then it is gone. I know the answer I shall give the headmaster, and as the evening draws in I make my way at a brisker pace down the mountain to my digs in the village.”
― Sting, Broken Music: A Memoir
My walking companions on the summit of Clough Head. Considering how far we had walked today and the amount of ascent we had climbed they were a.) still smiling and b.) looking remarkably fresh. We were all looking forward to getting in to Threlkeld and that post walk beer in the Horse & Farrier.
Heading down off Clough Head with Threlkeld Knotts ahead which we would pass to the right of to reach Hausewell Brow
Approaching Hausewell Brow with Blencathra providing a beautiful early evening backdrop
The isolated homestead of Newsham
My my that tasted good - celebratory beers in The Horse & Farrier, Threlkeld where I was met by Angie & Robbie