Ard Crags & Knott Rigg - Monday 2 January 2023
Route
Rigg Beck - Rigg Screes - Ard Crags - Knott Rigg - Keskadale - Keskadale Farm - Newlands Church - Chapel Bridge - Rigg Beck
Parking
Parking area on a sharp bend in the road approximately 1/4 a mile north east of the farm at Birkrigg (free) - Grid Reference NY 2297 2017. Nearest postcode is CA12 5TS. There is enough room for about 9 sensibly parked cars.
Mileage
6.5 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths throughout
Weather
Light breezes, sunshine with excellent visibility
Time Taken
4hrs 30mins
Total Ascent
1722ft (525m)
Wainwrights
2
Map
OL4 - The English Lakes (North Western Area)
Walkers
Dave, Angie & Fudge
Rigg Beck - Rigg Screes - Ard Crags - Knott Rigg - Keskadale - Keskadale Farm - Newlands Church - Chapel Bridge - Rigg Beck
Parking
Parking area on a sharp bend in the road approximately 1/4 a mile north east of the farm at Birkrigg (free) - Grid Reference NY 2297 2017. Nearest postcode is CA12 5TS. There is enough room for about 9 sensibly parked cars.
Mileage
6.5 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths throughout
Weather
Light breezes, sunshine with excellent visibility
Time Taken
4hrs 30mins
Total Ascent
1722ft (525m)
Wainwrights
2
Map
OL4 - The English Lakes (North Western Area)
Walkers
Dave, Angie & Fudge
GPX File
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Route Map
The Car Park at the old Rigg Beck Quarry
From the parking area there is a path on the right which heads alongside Rigg Beck. It looked like we were in for a beautiful day. Causey Pike peeps up to the left of the lone tree. This path leads all the way to Buttermere some 4 and a half miles away.
Looking back to the bridge over Rigg Beck - the Car Park is out of sight on the left. The road heading away to the right leads to Newlands Hause and on to Buttermere.
Another one of his quizzical "are we going the right way you two?" looks from Fudge as we continue alongside Rigg Beck. Aikin Knott is the fell on the left with the ridge to Ard Crags beyond - the fell to the rear centre is Sail. We have ascended Ard Crags via Aikin Knott and details of this ascent can be found here
Continuing along the Rigg Beck path with the slopes of Scar Crags now in view to the right
The crossing point over Rigg Beck if your goal for the day is to ascend Ard Crags via Aikin Knott
Approximately 800 yards on from the crossing point the path starts to rise above Rigg Beck
The path becomes looser as it slants along the lower slopes of Scar Crags
As height is gained the view really opens out all the way back to Cat Bells and beyond
The gradient eases as the col between Ard Crags & Sail Pass comes within sight
The col between Ard Crags and the Sail Pass with Angie & Fudge making their way up the steep ascent. The top of the path from Rigg Beck to gain the Ard Crags path can be found at Grid Ref NY 20384 20005.
Scar Crags & Causey Pike from the path junction
Fudge has a sniff about in the undergrowth as we look back to Sail & the path junction from the ascent of Ard Crags - the junction of paths becomes more obvious as height is gained. Heading left leads to Buttermere and the path to Wandope via the ridge above Addacomb Hole, straight on cuts across the fell and leads to the Sail Pass whilst the one to the right is the one we walked up via Rigg Beck.
Wandope & Addacomb Hole with Whiteless Pike to the rear. We haven't climbed Wandope via that ridge yet but must do so soon.
A little further round and four Wainwrights are now in view - Whiteless Pike, Wandope, Crag Hill & Sail
After much huffing and puffing we arrived on the summit of Ard Crags
Angie & Fudge on the summit of Ard Crags - for such a diminutive fell (1906ft) the summit offers superb views in all directions
Looking along Ard Crags eastern ridge to Aikin Knott with Causey Pike to the left. To the far left with a slight dusting of the white stuff is Skiddaw with Blencathra centre.
The delightful ridge walk between Ard Crags & Knott Rigg
The connecting ridge to Knott Rigg with the High Stile range beyond
The view to the north west from Ard Crags (click Play to view)
Rigid still as he hears the rattle of a dog treat box in Carlisle
From Ard Crags it is a leisurely, mostly flat amble along the ridge to Knott Rigg
Looking back to Ard Crags
Approaching Knott Rigg
Wainwright made a note in Book 6 about the opportunity of getting "caught short" on this exposed ridge. He commented that: "An advantage of solitary travel on the fells, greatly appreciated by all lone walkers, is the freedom to perform a certain function as and where one wishes, without any of the consultations and subterfuges necessitated by party travel. The narrow crest of the Knott Rigg ridge is no place for indulging the practice, however, whether alone or accompanied, walkers here being clearly outlined against the sky and in full view from two valleys. This comment is intended for males particularly. Women (according to information) have a different way of doing it"
Wainwright was not one for the intricacies of being PC
Wainwright made a note in Book 6 about the opportunity of getting "caught short" on this exposed ridge. He commented that: "An advantage of solitary travel on the fells, greatly appreciated by all lone walkers, is the freedom to perform a certain function as and where one wishes, without any of the consultations and subterfuges necessitated by party travel. The narrow crest of the Knott Rigg ridge is no place for indulging the practice, however, whether alone or accompanied, walkers here being clearly outlined against the sky and in full view from two valleys. This comment is intended for males particularly. Women (according to information) have a different way of doing it"
Wainwright was not one for the intricacies of being PC
Further along the ridge Wandope & Whiteless Pike become clearer
Crag Hill & Sail - the connecting ridge between the two is called "The Scar"
The summit of Knott Rigg
Looking back along the ridge from Knott Rigg's summit to Ard Crags
Our return route from Knott Rigg towards Keskadale. If preferred, it is easy enough to cut the corner off and head towards the path in the distance or, like we did carry on in the direction of Newlands Hause and switch back via a path.
With Fudge on the summit of Knott Rigg - and what a beautiful day it is
Are you ready for take off Squadron Leader?
The path to Newlands Hause from Knott Rigg. This path is the most popular (and easiest) way to climb both Knott Rigg & Ard Crags.
Looking back to Knott Rigg from the Newlands Hause path. At Grid Reference NY 19738 18750 the path splits and we turned back on ourselves to head along the path to Keskadale - it is clear now how easy it is to just cut the corner but we chose to remain on the designated path.
At Grid Ref NY 19800 18838 the path splits once more and the walker has a choice to make. The left hand path contours around to the right and continues along the airy ridge (this path is not marked on the OS Map) back to Keskadale. The right hand path takes a lower route to Keskadale and is marked on the OS Map. Both routes are fine, however on a day like this the ridge provided some fantastic views.
The ridge path to Keskadale - and what views.
We stopped for lunch on the ridge and having scoffed his, Fudge enquired whether he could possibly have some of ours.
Looking back along the ridge to Knott Rigg
Ard Crags from the Keskadale ridge
Keskadale Farm down below as we start to descend steeply to the valley floor
Almost down now - this was a steep descent but on a good path
Just above to farm, the path switches back on itself to reach a stile at Grid Ref NY 20900 19286
The path reaches the road between Braithwaite & Buttermere but is soon left to head down a farm track on the right
Crossing Keskadale Beck
Heading across fields towards Little Town with Cat Bells left of centre and Knott End on Maiden Moor to the right
Looking back to Causey Pike
Maiden Moor over High Snab
The beautiful Newlands Church - origin of build unknown however a map of 1576 shows a "Newlande Chap." on the site
The stained glass window on the south wall of Newlands Church depicting St Michael in armour with a lion's head on his shoulder. The window is a memorial to Thomas Roscre Johnston who was unfortunately killed in World War 1.
The stained-glass east window by Abbot & Co. of Lancaster dates to 1845 and was paid for by local residents to commemorate the rebuilding of the church. It displays Christ holding the wine and bread beneath the words, "I am the true vine, I am the living bread".
The immaculately kept churchyard of Newlands Church
Looking over Birkriggg Farm to Causey Pike
His Lordship waiting for his drying down - and more food no doubt!