Britain : England : Lake District :
Eastern Fells

The Eastern Fells of the Lake District offer easier walks than the steep climbs and scrambling of the more popular regions. Many walkers take this opportunity to do longer walks, especially the long High Street ridge.

High Street and High Raise from Kidsty Pike

High Street is a long grassy ridge running parallel to Haweswater, on the course of an old Roman road which goes from Ravenglas on the west coast of Cumbria, across towards Langdale and Windermere and then up to Penrith. The High Street course is one of the well-known sections and is a popular route for one-way walks.

Below the ridge lies Haweswater, a man-made reservoir supplying Manchester. The valley used to be inhabited by Mardale village, until it was flooded to create the reservoir. Some nearby fells still have the name, such as Mardale Ill Bell above the head of the valley, and Mardale Head, where most High Street walks start.

Haweswater from Dudderwick

As well as High Street, another popular walk from Mardale Head is to walk up one of the spurs from High Street, then around the top of the small tarns and back down to the valley. This route can be varied to include any of the nearby peaks, as well as extending southwards to Kentmere.

Mardale Ill Bell at the southern end of High Street

Pubs

Mardale Head doesn't have any pubs, but Bampton and Bampton Grange at the other end of the valley have a selection. The towns of Shap, Penrith and Kentmere also have some pubs.

Maps

Haweswater and High Street are covered by these maps:

• OS Outdoor Leisure (scale 1:25,000) 5 : North East Lakes
• OS Landranger (scale 1:50,000) 90 : Penrith & Keswick