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Sat14May16 Alfred Wainwright’s Favourite
(Haystacks) Alfred Wainwright is the most famous fell
walker of all time. His seven-volume Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells,
published between 1955 and 1966 is a rambler’s bible to the 214 fells of
English Lake District. This route bags 2 Wainwrights - Fleetwith
Pike (648m) and Alfred Wainwright’s favourite Haystacks (597m). With an
exciting climb and wondrous views of the surrounding lakes and mountains. We will meet at YHA Honister Hause (where most of us are sleeping over) and car share to Gatesgarth Farm car park (which I think has a £3 honesty box). The way up Fleetwith Edge ridgeline is
obvious but has 4 false summits. The first is Low Raven Crag, which is a
pleasant outcrop, the next is covered in heather and the last two are stoney.
Each looks steeper, narrower and more
intimidating than the last and there is a worrying white cross with the
inscription “Erected by friend of Fanny Mercer Accidentally Killed 1887” but
once you get there you find a succession of zig-zagging steps and nothing too
difficult. Alfred said this route “Is a beautiful climb. Do it!”. The views
overlooking Buttermere Lake and Crummock Water are superb. From Fleetwith Pike summit we will continue
along Honister Crag to “bag” Black Start and Bell Crag before heading
cross-country passing Hooper and Dubs Quarry to reach Haystacks for lots of
exploring before descending Scarth Gap back to the car and the Fish Inn pub
in Buttermere which has splendid views for photographing the skyline route we
have just scaled. Haystacks was Alfred Wainwright’s favourite
mountain, and his final request was … "All I ask for, at the end, is a last
long resting place by the side of Innominate Tarn, on Haystacks, where the
water gently laps the gravelly shore and the heather blooms and Pillar and
Gable keep unfailing watch. A quiet place, a lonely place. I shall go to it,
for the last time, and be carried: someone who knew me in life will take me
and empty me out of a little box and leave me there alone. And if you, dear
reader, should get a bit of grit in your boot as you are crossing Haystacks
in the years to come, please treat it with respect. It might be me." Sleeping over is highly recommended due to
the remote location. See the diary for the Honister weekend accommodation. If
you are coming just for the day then please let the walk leader know well in
advance due to the limited car parking and poor phone signals. Start at 9:30 prompt YHA Honister Hause, Keswick, Cumbria. The nearest post code is CA12 5XN (Seatoller) but the YHA is 1.3miles west of there. Map: http://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=322577&Y=513658&A=Y&Z=120 Distance:
8.0 Miles Walk grade:
Hard.
Fleetwith
Pike (648m) and Haystacks (597m).
Buttermere
Lake and Crummock Water |
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