Parking
Start from United Utilities Legburthwaite Car Park, reached via the B5322 off the A591 near St John's in the Vale. The route leaves by a walled lane and reaches the fell path through a ladder stile or gate.
Overview
About High Rigg, Naddle Fell and Wren Crag
Why go
- Big fell views for a modest amount of climbing
- Varied circuit mixing ridge, church lane and beck-side paths
- Two summits and a small tarn along the way
Heads up
- Short walk along the A591 verge near the start
- Boggy ground around High Rigg Tarn after rain
- Steep, bracken-covered descent and many stiles
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Lake District map
Full mapElevation149–331 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
8 active Lake District alerts
- ClosureChapel Stile footpath closed for retaining-wall riskPart of Footpath 543030 between Chapel Stile and Baysbrown campsite is closed because a retaining wall beside the path could collapse and material it supports could fall across the footpath.Official details
- ClosureStanley Ghyll Lower Falls footpath closed for rockfallThe section of Footpath 408037 leading towards Stanley Ghyll Lower Falls is closed because severe rockfall damage has made the path unstable and further rockfall remains a danger.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Lake District Tour Guide
Your drive to High Rigg, Naddle Fell and Wren Crag, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Lake District National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this trailhead
Legburthwaite: High Rigg Ridge and Valley0:00 / 1:01
“You're drawing near Legburthwaite, the starting point for a walk over High Rigg and Wren Crag. I'd choose this circuit if you fancy a rolling fell ridge, a little tarn and a valley return in about three hours.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Lake District Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Stanah: Sticks Pass and the Dodds
- Raven Crag: Thirlmere from Above
- Walter Scott: Fooling His Own Reviewers
- Armboth: High Tove and the Rocky Tops
- 298 audio storiesacross Lake District’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Red Deer, Eurasian Otter, Osprey, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 265 trails, 89 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking High Rigg, Naddle Fell and Wren Crag
Route and distanceA loop of about 5.5 miles, commonly quoted between 5.2 and 5.
A loop of about 5.5 miles, commonly quoted between 5.2 and 5.6 miles with roughly 1,200 feet of ascent, and usually walked in 2.5 to 3 hours. It links a low ridge with a valley return, so the climbing comes in short bursts rather than one long pull.
Getting onto the ridgeFrom the car park the way follows a walled lane, then about 250 m of verge beside the A591…
From the car park the way follows a walled lane, then about 250 m of verge beside the A591 before crossing to the path. A ladder stile or gate leads to the climb over Wren Crag, which opens views to Thirlmere, Raven Crag, St John's in the Vale and Blencathra.
Along the topThe ridge is undulating rather than a single summit, passing High Rigg Tarn and Moss Crag…
The ridge is undulating rather than a single summit, passing High Rigg Tarn and Moss Crag before reaching the two commonly cited high points: the Wainwright summit and the cairned 357 m Ordnance Survey top. Skiddaw and Blencathra dominate the northern skyline.
Descent and valley returnA steep drop through bracken and steps leads past the white Carlisle Diocesan Youth Centre to…
A steep drop through bracken and steps leads past the white Carlisle Diocesan Youth Centre to the road by St John's church. A signed bridleway and field paths continue towards Sosgill Bridge and above Low Bridge End Farm, then a beck-side path with steep drops in places returns to the main road and the car park.
FootingExpect grass and bracken, narrow stony sections, and boggy ground around the tarn margins.
Expect grass and bracken, narrow stony sections, and boggy ground around the tarn margins. Stiles, gates and field crossings are frequent, and good footwear is worth having for the wet patches and the steep descent.
Dogs and accessThe circuit uses public footpaths and bridleways with no route-specific dog restriction.
The circuit uses public footpaths and bridleways with no route-specific dog restriction. Keep dogs on a short lead or under close control, particularly in the farmland sections where livestock and horses are likely.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Lake District
81 sightingsRed DeerMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
13 sightingsEurasian OtterMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
76 sightingsOspreyMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
51 sightingsEuropean BadgerMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
233 sightingsMute SwanMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
176 sightingsGrey HeronMost seen around 7 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Lake District. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
