Hay Stacks 597m, Buttermere, Lake District (Wainwright).
Summary
Today the sun came out and it was a perfect day to do Hay Stacks. Only a minor little amble but the views of Fleetwith Pike, High Crag and iconic lake Buttermere were stupendous. There is a little tarn behind Hay Stacks and this is where Alfred Wainwright’s ashes were scattered because this was his favourite hill. Now I know the reason why, it is not even 600m but it has the views of a giant. I have to be honest, it is a magical place. The beauty in this valley sums up the best of UK scenery and is a fitting resting place for Alfred Wainwright.
Parking was at Gatesgarth Farm at the start point. £4 for all day. Big enough for about twenty cars but the maximum size again is for a VW Campervan. I am not sure if there is an overflow in the farm yard. Tea and Coffee van opposite.
As for the route go left out of the car park and not long after you will see a bridleway go off to the right. You follow this all the way along Warnscale Bottom go over a footbridge and then you start to go up steadily on the right of Warnscale Beck. The path is distinctive enough and as you draw level with the waterfalls the Beck zig zags. You eventually go round the back of a very obvious rocky outcrop called Green Crag where the path evens off. The views on the way up need no explaining.
You carry along West past a few tarns including Alfred’s Innominate Tarn and eventually you start to climb steeply but this is not for long. You get to the rocky top of Hay Stacks where there are two cairns, north and south tops, both with metal posts. The Southern one being the true top. Again, beautiful views.
You drop off the summit on the Westward side and it is steep and rocky. In fact its great! Today in the warm it was not slippy or loose and it carries on like this all the way down to Scarth Gap. In places it is hands on but all easy stuff. Once at the Gap you hang a right and follow the obvious path all the way down to Peggy’s Bridge at the butt end of Buttermere. Then it is a flat few hundred meters back to your start point. One of the best short hikes I have done anywhere, simply awesome.
Parking: Moderate size car park at the start. £4 for all day. Car size slots.
Route: Flat, very steep up/down, good distinctive trails, in the main very rocky. Some minor scrambling points. The views are gorgeous.
Route Statistics: A little bimble of 8.5km with 550m in height gain done in 2.5 hours with 106 photographs!!
Info Sheets
Photos of Hay Stacks