Red Screes, Little Hart Crag, High Pike and Low Pike from Ambleside

Ambleside is all about shops, cafes and cars. Well not quite all, but nearly! The fells form a discreet backdrop – one knows they are there, but unlike Keswick or Patterdale one is not subjected to their impending shadow. So this walk from the town centre allows time to sense the scenic swell and enjoy remarkable backward glances towards Windermere and the seeming far-off Coniston Fells.
Travellers of yore knew of the taxing drive over Kirkstone, and this walk puts you through your paces in climbing Red Screes to view the pass from on high. The walk then sweeps across the head of Scandale to the beacon cairn on High Bakestones and helter-skelters down the exciting High Pike/Low Pike ridge. The route offers the natural option of cutting back down Scandale after the ascent of Red Screes, if that is a long enough day – as well it might be in winter.

The Backbone of the Eastern Fells (a traverse)

This is a very strenuous walk which will take 9 hours to complete - an easier option will be available from Ambleside. Tarrain: An initial stiff climb on scree and grass, then easy high-level walking on good paths until stonier ground on the highest tops.

Walked in a north to south direction, with the height gained quickly and the easiest walking rattled off in the morning, this fine traverse has a gradual buildup to its highest and most dramatic fells rather than a long decline from them. In addition, the final descent to Ambleside is on well-used paths on which surely nobody could get lost. The northern part of the walk is generally known as the Dodds Ridge; it could in all fairness be caller the Dodger's Ridge for the main path along it carefully avoids every summit, which is worth remembering in mist. As this walk is a traverse, it will obviously be necessary to be dropped off on the B5322 running through St John's in the Vale, either at the approach to the disused Bramcrag Quarry (grid ref 319219) for the start by way of Fisher's Wife's Rake; or, for the other approach from near Wanthwaite, just under 3/4 mile further north along the road from the quarry where there is a sign `Matterdale unsuitable for motors' (grid ref 316231).