Starting just south of Ullswater, the route follows a quieter climb to Fairfield. The wonderful views across Helvellyn and Grisedale Tarn as well as the dramatic, exposed path to Fairfield summit makes this walk one of the best ridge walks in the Lake District.
Start and End Location: Patterdale. There is a pay and display car park on the left hand side of the A592 when driving from Glenridding.
Start Postcode: CA11 ONN approx.
Distance: 15km
Time: 5-6 hours
Facilities: Toilets at the start of the route, approximately 50 metres from the car park. Small shop and pubs in Patterdale.
GPX Download: Link below map
Grade: Hard Mountain Walk, with exposed paths and challenging navigation in poor weather.
From the car park, turn left and follow the road into Patterdale. After passing the White Lion pub, cross the road and take the right hand track (the toilet block is on the left). The track bears right and then turns left onto a narrow public footpath.
Keep left and then bear left through the gate.
The path steadily climbs alongside a dry stone wall. Ignore the right hand gate and continue uphill, heading towards Oxford Crag.
After passing below the crag, continue straight on to reach a faint grassy junction where the path levels out. Take the right fork.
The grassy path gradually bears right around the top of Trough Head before dropping down to a ditch.
Take the steep right hand path to climb towards Birks. The path soon meets a dry stone wall. Turn left, keeping the wall on your right.
The grassy path bears left and reaches a junction, marked with a low cairn. Turn left and follow the footpath to the summit of Birks, marked with a low pile of rocks.
Continue straight on, heading to St. Sunday Crag. The path, grassy and faint in some places, eventually reaches a junction.
Go straight ahead, following the rocky path upwards, with wonderful views back across Ullswater.
The path levels out and reaches a large cairn, marking the summit of St. Sunday Crag, with great views of Grisedale Tarn and the Deepdale Hause ahead.
The well defined rocky path descends gradually before steeply climbing towards Cofa Pike; there are sections of very exposed, narrow paths and loose scree. And wonderful views back across St. Sunday Crag.
The path eventually levels out and reaches Fairfield. Turn left and after passing the summit (which is marked with a cairn and a shelter), take the left hand footpath heading east towards Hart Crag.
Turn left just below Hart Crag summit and follow the narrow rocky footpath along Hartsop above How. The path, although faint in a few grassy sections, is generally easy to follow.
The route eventually reaches a dry stone wall and a wooden ladder stile.
Go over the stile and continue straight ahead through the woods and across the field to reach Deepdale Bridge.
Follow the road for a few metres and then take the left hand track. Turn right at the junction and continue downhill to meet the road.
A narrow pavement runs alongside most of the A592 to return to Patterdale and the car park.
