High Street from Mardale Head

The first climb is steady from the shoreline to Small Water and Nan Bield Pass. Mardale Ill Bell and High Street deliver the best high-level views, with deep corrie scenery around Blea Water, Haweswater below and wide sightlines across the eastern fells. After the summit, the route stays high and remote for several miles, with a succession of broad tops and rough paths before the long descent towards Bampton Common and the reservoir shore. High Street is a broad grassy summit with a trig pillar, while the old Roman road ridge gives the northern half a distinctive historic thread.

At roughly 1,025 m of ascent, this is a serious fell day. Footing alternates between stony paths, rough grass, peat, boggy ground and eroded descents. There is no technical scramble on this line, but steep ground, loose rocks and the distance make it demanding. In mist, the broad plateaus, wall junctions and faint paths are easy to misread. The exposed tops have little shelter, and water sources are not dependable on the high section, especially between High Street and Haweswater.

Clear visibility matters. An early start gives you more margin and calmer light on Haweswater and around Small Water. Late spring through autumn often gives the easiest ground, but high ground can hold snow or ice outside summer. For photographs, the lower shore and tarns work well in early light, while the high ridges are strongest when side-lit. If you want a shorter, more focused outing, the Rough Crag and High Street out-and-back is a different route with less remote mileage.

Dogs may use the public route, but this is a poor choice for an inexperienced dog. Keep dogs under close control and on a short lead near livestock, and use a lead of no more than two metres from 1 March to 31 July. The rocky ground, long distance and exposed high sections are hard on many dogs.