
Today I had planned to do the following route (I had not done this one before so decided to give it a go): Haweswater Reservoir-Swine Crag-Rough Crag-Caspel Gate-Riggindale Crag-Long Stile-High Street-Mardale Ill Bell-NanBield Pass-Haweswater. However, as I climbed up Riggindale Crag, the weather took a turn for the worst - visibility was poor and the ground underfoot was very slippery. It was cold on the summit and gloves and hat were worn for a time. Upon reaching the summit of High Street I was greeted with a fantastic view of the inside of a cloud, so I set my map and compass and made my way over to Kidsty Pike, (a fell I haven't visited since I was little!) and returned to the car park via Kidsty Howes, as the weather was fairer here than in the other valley, and the route, in my opinion, was safer than attempting the steeper route (Nan Bield Pass), which I was unfamiliar with. Along the walk I noticed some rabbits, Wheatear, Deer-Sedge, Heather, Tormentil, and Common Mouse-Ear, as well as Corsican Pine, Sweet Chestnut, Silver Birch and Rowan trees. I didn't see the Eagle(s) which nest in the cliffs in Riggindale Valley. On the grassy slopes I walked sideways so as to reduce the risk of a slip and to reduce the risk of damaging the ground. Haweswater reservoir was built in 1929 and there was much arguing about it because the villages of Measand and Mardale Green were populated. The people were moved and the valley flooded. Remains can still be seen when the water level is low.
Area :
Far Eastern Fells
Reaching their highest point at High Street(828 metres) they occupy a broad area to the east of Ullswater and Kirkstone Pass. Much quieter than the central areas of Lakeland they offer in general easier but less exciting walking as the fells merge mainly into the surrounding moorlands. Exceptions however are the fine rock scenery to be seen surrounding the head of Haweswater