Haystacks, one of the most popular fells in the Lake District, not only famous for its position but also as the last resting place of the great Alfred Wainwright author of the amazing works of art that are his pictorial guide series. If you haven’t seen one of his many books our missing out. They are works of art. True dedication to a passion.
7 years earlier I walked my biggest Lake District Fell walk, starting at Buttermere and climbing, Haystacks, descending and then heading back up High Crag, High Stile and Red Pike because I didn’t want to go home. It was an amazing day and the day I created on of my most popular prints. The Retreat. I had been planning to make a return to the Retreat and take a new version of that shot, however with Chronic fatigue Syndrome it is a total lottery as to when and how much energy I have these days. We made 2 visits to Honister earlier with the intention of doing this walk but by the time I got to the start of the walk I didn’t have the energy to start it. There is no way Im putting myself or my family at risk by collapsing in the middle of nowhere, its just not going to happen. I find with my condition within a very short space of time I can lose all my energy and be numb. Unable to feel my limbs , with the worst head and neck ache imaginable. I can’t push through it, once it sets in, that’s it, useless for hours, days or even a week. It’s a cruel condition and one that severely restricts activities I previously took fro granted such as walking in the Lake District but also menial day to day tasks. So I had to be confident and also have a way out.
I planned to take it really easy and not be afraid to quit. I broke the walk up into sections with rest stops to refuel and take a break, in the guide book I referred to the walk was suggested to take 1.5hrs from Honister to the Summit of Haystacks. Allowing for some time at the Summit that would be a 4 hour walk maximum. It took over 8 hours. We did it though and it felt great, yes I paid for it for a week or so afterwards but the photos I captured and the memories made will last a lifetime. I hope you enjoy these images.
The crystal clear water crossing the paths on the route up Haystacks.
Down Warnscale to Buttermere.
Simply stunning.
From left to right. Green Crag, Haystacks, High Crag, Buttermere and Fleetwith Pike.
I love this view.
Later in the Summer the foreground will be covered in purple heather.
When the Heather is in full bloom this would make a nice image.
Looking down to Buttermere.
Last time I was up here I started from the farm in the distance and walked to path, crossed the river and climbed up here. Click here to see details of that walk.
Great Gable. I climbed up there a few years back.
Great Gable at the head of the Ennerdale valley, Innominate Tarn in the foreground.
Fantastic.
Approaching the summit of Haystacks.
Feels like your flying stood here on the summit, it is such a great feeling to be high on the fells again.
Great Gable form the Summit of Haystacks.
Great Gable and Pillar over the Ennerdale Valley.
The light is getting better as we turn and head for home.
Green Gable on the left leading up to Great Gable.
Buttermere and Crummock Water in the distance.
My first visit to the Retreat in 7 years. Looks like I’m not alone.
Great to see the old building still standing.
These guys were staying the night.
The fence posts caught my eye.
This is the best time to be out, the Golden hour, the light on nights like this is superb.
Here are some iPhone photos from the walk
The Honister Bus taking visitors to the Mine.
Doing well so far boys…
Lewis, he’s done well for a 4 year old.
Thomas, he did well for a 9 year old.
On the way home I stopped at Ashiness Jetty on Derwentwater.
Follow this link if you’d like to see my current collection of prints from Buttermere and Haystacks.
