Haystacks

The car park at Gatesgarth Farm is ideally placed, cross the road and go through the gate next to the farmyard entrance. It's signposted Buttermere and Ennerdale. Follow the path through the fields, over Peggy's bridge, and climb the steep path alongside the trees.

When you reach the wide Scarth Gap path above, turn left. This rough mountain path climbs steadily to a wall, go through the gap and continue straight ahead. The way becomes steep, and marked by cairns.

At the top of the pass, at the cairn marking the crossroads, turn left and head for the engineered steps going up. At this point although steep, the path is obvious and with no difficulties. Higher up the path deteriorates and in places hands on rock are required. If anything looks a bit tricky search around left and right as no technical moves are required, just a hand here and there to either steady, or help pull yourself up. Natural ramps and clefts in the rock are often used. Look for the well worn foot placements, and in early spring crampon scratches from the winter climbers may still be evident. There are a few handy cairns marking the path too when it gets a little 'hidden'.

Continue following the mountain path ever upwards, don't forget to take the odd breather to look around.

Finally the summit is reached. The top consists of two short ridges with a small tarn between them. It is the left most, far, cairn with the old fence post sticking up that is considered the real summit. Although there doesn't appear to be much in it.

Bear right and cross the summit area to locate the top of the the paths beyond heading south east. There are two, the lower path can be a little boggy, but they both join back up at Inominate Tarn.

Continue on to reach Black Beck Tarn. From here either go straight over the grass bank ahead, or bear left and ascend the steps on to Green Crag. The views are worth the latter. Rejoin the wide path from Black Beck Tarn bearing left.

The path soon turns left and is joined by another coming in from Brandreth. Very shortly after, approx 100m (110 yards), a large domed rock bars the way ahead. The left side path drops steeply down, instead turn right here and follow the path as it bears right and passes close to a rocky knoll then descends towards the river. Dubs Quarry is now straight ahead. Continue on the path, descending, and cross the river by the stepping stones.

Once across the river turn left, do not drop into the ghyll, and bear left again to pick up the path above Warnscale Beck.

This path although easy, it is occasionally quite steep, and mainly covered in loose gravel which requires careful foot placement.

On reaching the road above the cottage, turn left to return to the car park.