Fleetwith Pike - Tuesday 8 March 2022
Route
Honister - Bell Crags - Black Star (Honister Crag) - Fleetwith Pike - Dubs Hut - Drum House - Honister
Parking
Honister Slate Mine (£5 all day, pay in the shop) - Grid Reference NY 22458 13538. Nearest postcode is CA12 5XN which will take you to Seatoller however the Slate Mine is 1.4 miles further on up the B5289 (Honister Pass). There is also a National Trust Car Park next door to the Slate Mine.
Mileage
4 miles
Terrain
Good paths throughout
Weather
Sunny with strong winds and excellent visibility.
Time Taken
2hrs 10mins
Total Ascent
1161ft (354m)
Wainwrights
1
Map
OL4 - The English Lakes (North Western Area)
Walkers
Dave & Fudge
Honister - Bell Crags - Black Star (Honister Crag) - Fleetwith Pike - Dubs Hut - Drum House - Honister
Parking
Honister Slate Mine (£5 all day, pay in the shop) - Grid Reference NY 22458 13538. Nearest postcode is CA12 5XN which will take you to Seatoller however the Slate Mine is 1.4 miles further on up the B5289 (Honister Pass). There is also a National Trust Car Park next door to the Slate Mine.
Mileage
4 miles
Terrain
Good paths throughout
Weather
Sunny with strong winds and excellent visibility.
Time Taken
2hrs 10mins
Total Ascent
1161ft (354m)
Wainwrights
1
Map
OL4 - The English Lakes (North Western Area)
Walkers
Dave & Fudge
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Route Map
The walk starts from Honister Slate Mine at the top of the Honister Pass. There are several Car Parks here and walkers need to be aware that the parking is shared with visitors to the mine and the other attractions. There is a lot going on at the mine and a link to the Honister Slate Mine's website is here
From the western parking area the route heads up the access road to the Hopper Quarry with Bell Crags centre right.
Looking across to Yewcrag Quarries & Yew Crag
The slate tablet and table that commemorates the re-opening of the mine in 2001 by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh
Fudge rolls his eyes to display his doggy disapproval of yet another photograph. It was just Fudge and I out today as Angie was on the South Coast visiting her Mum.
The route continues steeply uphill on a good track
Looking back to our route of ascent with the slate mine sitting below to the right
Reaching a disused mine building the route turns to the left and it is here that the gradient eases
Looking to a hazy Grey Knotts as the views open out
The route passes through several slate monoliths as we continue along the Hopper Quarry access track. The large feature in the distance is an ever growing spoil heap of green slate.
Near a large, flat piece of slate the route leaves the access track to head towards Black Star on Honister Crag. Fudge very kindly marks the start of the path by indicating it with his presence.
Heading for Black Star via the path to the right which eventually swings to the left through the rocks
The summit of Black Star looking to Fleetwith Pike in the immediate foreground
Grasmoor in the far distance with left to right High Snockrigg, Robinson, Littledale Edge & Hindscarth
Dale Head
The approach to Fleetwith Pike from Black Star
Looking down to the Honister Pass
Nearing Fleetwith Pike with Pillar to the left, High Stile to the right and Buttermere below
The summit of Fleetwith Pike looking to Seat, Gamlin End, High Crag, High Stile, Red Pike & Dodd with Crummock Water also in view beyond Buttermere
Looking to Haystacks & Pillar from the summit of Fleetwith Pike
I never tire of the view from Fleetwith Pike - fantastic in all directions
High Snockrigg, Grasmoor, Whiteless Pike, Robinson & Littledale Edge
Fudge looking windswept & interesting on the summit of Fleetwith Pike
It was a bit blowy today (Click Play to view)
From the summit a path heads to the south east in the direction of Dubs Quarry
Kirk Fell, Haystacks & Pillar
After just over half a mile the route reaches the access track between the quarries of Dubs & Hopper
We were off to pay a quick visit to the Dubs Hut Mountain Bothy which is to the right. The popular route to Haystacks can be seen snaking its way up the fell side opposite. This route is a lovely way of reaching Haystacks.
Just before Dubs Hut the route reaches a channel which leaves the main track to the right. Fudge didn't want to walk down the track preferring the channel instead although in a few yards they both end up in exactly the same place.
The Dubs Hut Mountain Bothy
It is always nice to stop here and chat to whoever is inside. The bothy is a former Mining Hut and was restored in 2017 by the Mountain Bothies Association with the help of Honister Slate Mine who own the building. It is one of two bothies in this area - the other more well known one is at Warnscale about 1/4 of a mile to the west.
Fudge makes himself at home inside the Bothy which, whilst obviously pretty basic provides decent shelter from the elements.
The zig zag path from Dubs Hut that crosses over Warnscale Beck to continue on to Haystacks. I did contemplate carrying on over to Haystacks but because of the strong winds I left it for another day.
From Dubs Hut I joined the path that Wainwright described as "the straightest mile in Lakeland" (Fleetwith Pike 4). This was the route that was used to transport the stone in trucks from Dubs Quarry to Honister Slate Mine. The winding gear was located at the highest point on the line at the Drum House.
Approaching the Drum House which can be seen ahead
The remains of the Drum House. This structure housed a wooden drum and cable with the braking system operated manually. The system controlled the ascent and descent of the trucks that were deployed to transport the slate down to the processing sheds below.
From the Drum House the path descends gradually back towards the slate mine
Nearing Honister the gradient steepens - though hazy, Borrowdale is now in view
With the mine now in view the path continues to steepen and turns sharp left and after 50 yards turns to the right
Safely back down at Honister. It is worth having a wander in and around the external areas of the mine, particularly at the slate artwork.
Just another of the many slate artworks made by the skilled workforce
A homage to the Tour de France alongside a slate model of The Bridge House at Ambleside
The gateway to the slate mine at the top of the Honister Pass