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High Rigg & Legburthwaite

Lake District Walk

Nat Park - Lake District - Lake District Central Fells

Wainwrights - High Rigg

County/Area - Cumbria

Author - John Paterson

Length - 5.5 miles / 8.9 km    Ascent - 700 feet / 212 metres

Time - 3 hours 30 minutes    Grade - easy

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Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - High Rigg & Legburthwaite
Click image to visit gallery of 6 images.

Walking the "Wainwrights" has one great advantage - it encourages you to explore the lesser heights of the Lake District with equal enthusiasm to the days spent in the high mountains. High Rigg is one such fell. Surrounded by much loftier peaks, including Helvellyn and Blencathra, it provides a taste of the higher fells without the effort required needed to gain the summit cairn of one of the giants. Ideal for a day shortened by bad weather, this Lake District walk starts within a few yards of a major road and soon gets you away from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

There is an adequate car park just off the A591 (Grid ref. NY318196). From here return to the main road and walk north over the river bridge, immediately turning right on a footpath that climbs the southern flanks of High Rigg. Take the left hand path where it splits and climb quickly to the top of Wren Crag. Most of the ascent is now over and it is a matter of following the path along the ridge. For most of the way it keeps to the western side and is easy to follow with the summit cairn visible ahead. For a low fell the views are surprisingly good. The panorama includes Thirlmere, Helvellyn, the eastern flanks of the Dodds, Clough Head, Blencathra, Skiddaw and the Central Fells.

A perfect place to rest, the summit cairn provides a grandstand view of Blencathra giving you the chance to review some of the routes to the summit. Suitably rested, continue steeply down to St John's Vale Church (worth a look inside) before taking the bridle-way which follows the wall along the eastern side of the fell. Eventually this leads you back to where the path forked at the start of the walk.

Other walks nearby

Walk 2019 Raven Crag, the Benn & Shoulthwaite Gill near Thirlmereeasy/mod4.0 miles
Walk 2032 Great How, a short ascent above Thirlmereeasy2.0 miles
Walk 1247 Helvellyn & Raise from Swirlsmod/hard7.0 miles
Walk 2025 Helvellyn & Wythburn from Swirlsmod/hard8.5 miles
Walk 3132 High Tove & Blea Tarnmoderate7.6 miles
Walk 2587 Castlerigg Stone Circle & St John's in the Valeeasy/mod8.5 miles
Walk 1356 Walla Crag from Great Woodeasy/mod4.5 miles
Walk 1108 Ashness Bridge & Grange Fellmoderate9.0 miles
Walk 2525 Standing Crag & Dock Tarn from Watendlathmoderate7.0 miles
Walk 2526 Standing Crag, Ullscarf & Borrowdalemod/hard10.0 miles

Recommended Books & eBooks

Lake District: Low Level and Lake Walks

Lake District: Low Level and Lake WalksThis guidebook describes 30 of the best low-level walks in the Lake District. From delightful wooded glades and sparkling tarns, to waterfalls and glacier-carved valleys towered over by craggy mountains. The walks described aim to seek out the best walking that the lower areas of the Lake District have to offer.
More information

Walking the Lake District Fells - Mardale and the Far East

Walking the Lake District Fells - Mardale and the Far EastPart of the Walking the Lake District Fells series, this guidebook covers a wide range of routes to 36 Lakeland summits that can be climbed from the Ullswater, Haweswater, Troutbeck, Kentmere and Longsleddale valleys, with highlights including High Street, Place Fell and the Kentmere fells. Suggestions for longer ridge routes are also included.
More information

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