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Haystacks Summit – High Stile Summit loop from Gatesgarth

Routes

Mountain hikes & routes

Haystacks Summit – High Stile Summit loop from Gatesgarth

Hard

5.0

(1)

hikers

Haystacks Summit – High Stile Summit loop from Gatesgarth

05:30

13.1km

880m

Mountaineering

Hard mountaineering route. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: April 16, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Lake District National Park

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

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1.20 km

Scarth Gap

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

Scarth Gap is a great, gradual ascent from Buttermere or Ennerdale. Turn left at the cairn that marks the top of the pass to ascend Haystacks or turn right to ascend Seat and on to High Crag

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2.28 km

Scarth Gap

Mountain Pass

2.87 km

Alfred Wainwright’s favourite fell and final resting place, Haystacks is achingly pretty: a place where rocky, craggy coarseness meets the quaint charm of tarns and streams in perfect harmony. Alf described the peak as a ‘wonderful cure’ to the everyday worries of life. If you’re feeling stressed, go climb Haystacks.

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4.72 km

High Crag Summit

Highlight • Viewpoint

High Crag is the easternmost of the High Stile range's great summits. From Haystacks, it looks a grand, pyramidal peak and the ascent from this direction, via Gamlin End, is suitably steep and rough. The views more than compensate for any effort though, with the muscular bulk of Pillar to the south and the graceful ridgelines of the North Western Fells strutting their stuff to the north.

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5.28 km

View of Buttermere from High Crag

Highlight • Summit

Very windy day on my last visit here, do be mindful of that as you cross the tops. Great views down to Buttermere.

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6.58 km

High Stile Summit

Highlight • Viewpoint

Shapely and noble, High Stile is the highest point of the eye-catching ridge soaring proudly above Buttermere. Traversing this ridge – the Buttermere Edge – should not be rushed. It’s a place to linger: find a rocky outcrop and savour the panoramas over the exquisite Buttermere Valley and its wild neighbour Ennerdale.

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7.70 km

Red Pike (Buttermere)

Highlight • Climb

So called due to the red coloured soil and stone, do be careful going down Red Pike as the paths have all but eroded and its mainly loose stones. If you park at Buttermere village and make Red Pike your first climb, then you can more or less keep going all day. High Stile, High Crag, Haystacks, Fleetwith Pike, Honister, and Dale Head are all on a circular route if you have the energy and time.

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8.44 km

Bleaberry Tarn

Highlight • Viewpoint

When describing the High Stile range, Alfred Wainwright described Bleaberry Tarn as lying 'in the central recess like a jewel'. It's situation at the base of the hanging valley of Bleaberry Comb is magnificent, with the impressive peaks of Red Pike and High Stile high above. It also offers great views towards Grasmoor and the other high peaks of the North Western Fells.

The tarn is easily reached from the village of Buttermere and is often visited on an ascent of Red Pike, the shapely high summit on the northwestern end of the High Stile range. A visit to the subsidiary summit of Dodd is well worth it too, even if it isn't a Wainwright.

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8.98 km