Riggindale Round

From the car park the path skirts the head of the reservoir and passes below The Rigg before the real work begins: a steep, sustained climb over Rough Crag and up the Riggindale and Long Stile ridge to High Street. From there the walk crosses the Straits of Riggindale to Rampsgill Head, continues to High Raise, then turns back to Kidsty Pike before descending by Kidsty Howes and Randale Beck and returning over The Rigg to the car park. The reward is the constantly shifting view over Haweswater, deep into Riggindale, and across to Blea Water and the eastern fells, with Riggindale Crag seen best from the High Street rim and Kidsty Pike framed from the Straits.

Rate this hard mountain hiking, 7 out of 10. It is not technical climbing, and the ridge gives little sense of exposure to most walkers, but it is a serious fell day:

The ridge is flanked by steep crags, so poor visibility or strong wind changes the character of the day completely. Boots with good grip, a map and compass, and the confidence to use them are the minimum.

• One long, unrelenting climb with rocky steps and short sections of minor scrambling
• Loose scree in places, especially on the steeper ground
• Rough, tussocky and often wet high ground
• Real route-finding on the broad plateau between High Street, Rampsgill Head and High Raise

Riggindale is a classic glacial U-shaped valley, scooped out below crags and holding the reservoir at its foot, with corrie tarns, heather and upland grass on the higher ground. Birds of prey and other fell wildlife may be seen from the ridge, though nothing is guaranteed.

• Best time: late spring through early autumn, on a clear day with settled air. Start early to have the ridge to yourself and to keep the climb out of the afternoon heat.
• Seasonal notes: short daylight and possible snow or ice on the ridge in winter turn this into a full mountain outing; wet spells leave the plateau boggy and the scree greasy.
• Photography: morning light rakes down Riggindale from the Rough Crag ridge, while late afternoon and evening light works best looking back over Haweswater from Kidsty Pike and the descent.

The walk starts and ends at Mardale Head Car Park, roughly 54.48921, -2.82041, near grid reference NY469 107. It is free, holds about 25 vehicles, and has no public services of any kind, so bring your own water and food. The approach is a slow, winding road along the length of Haweswater, so allow more driving time than the distance suggests. There is no opening-hour restriction, but overnight parking is prohibited under a public-space order. Phone signal is absent across much of the area, so plan on being out of contact.

Pets are allowed on the public rights of way used by this loop. Keep dogs on leads around livestock and ground-nesting birds, particularly through the nesting season, and stay on the rights of way where the ground is very steep and uneven. Be plain with yourself about this one: the crags flanking the Rough Crag and Long Stile ridge make it potentially dangerous for dogs, and it is not a route for a dog that is not sure-footed and reliably under control.