South from the Cow Bridge car park near Hartsop along the A592 to Sykeside, then south-east and a steep climb up to John Bell’s Banner on Cauldale Moor. East via the summit of Stony Cove Pike to reach the Beacon which marks the top of Thornthwaite Crag. North-east then north along the High Street ridge to The Knott and finally west past Hayeswater and alongside Hayeswater Gill back to Hartsop and the car park. A 9-mile walk in the Lake District.
Recommended Ordnance Survey Map
The best map to use on this walk is the Ordnance Survey map of the Lake District North-Eastern Area, reference OS Explorer OL5, scale 1:25,000. It clearly displays footpaths, rights of way, open access land and vegetation on the ground, making it ideal for walking, running and hiking. The map can be purchased from Amazon in either a standard, paper version or a weatherproof, laminated version, as shown below.
Standard Version
The view west from Thornthwaite Crag to the snow-covered tops of Helvellyn and Nethermost Pike on the horizon.
The summit of Thornthwaite Crag, height 784 metres (2572 feet).
Clear views north-west from Thornthwaite Crag, with Blencathra (Saddleback) visible about 13 miles away.
Gray Crag at the end of the long, narrow ridge which leads from Thornthwaite Crag. On the left, behind the ridge, is Hartsop Dodd.
The track across High Street, the course of an old Roman road.
Hayeswater as seen from Racecourse Hill, just below the summit of High Street, height 828 metres (2717 feet).
The view from above Short Stile through the Riggindale Beck valley towards the southern extent of Haweswater Reservoir.
Twopenny Crag (left) and Kidsty Pike (the peak on the right).
The U-shaped glacial valley which separates Kidsty Pike and Rough Crag. Short Stile protrudes into the valley and Riggindale Beck flows through it on its way to Haweswater Reservoir.
Looking back towards Thornthwaite Crag (horizon, centre) at the head of the Hayeswater Gill valley between High Street and Gray Crag.
The dry stone wall leads directly to the summit of High Street, with paths on either side.
Kev strikes a pose on The Knott, height 739 metres (2425 feet).
Hayeswater nestled in the valley at the foot of Gray Crag (right).
Footbridge across Hayeswater Gill, which flows west towards Hartsop. Along the way it merges with Pasture Beck and Kirkstone Beck and the resulting waters of Goldrill Beck head north and discharge into Ullswater.
Waterfall created by Sulphury Gill on the western flanks of Rest Dodd / The Knott.
The stone track back to the hamlet of Hartsop and Cow Bridge just north of Brothers Water.
