Far Eastern Fells Wainwrights

This area sits east of the Kirkstone Pass road and runs along Ullswater as far as Pooley Bridge. Its eastern edge reaches Longsleddale church, where Tarn Crag and Grey Crag are the last fells over 2,000 feet. The walking is quieter than in the middle of the Lakes and mostly easier, because the fells merge into moorland on their outer edges.

The two sides of the main ridge look different. Martindale's steep U-shaped valleys cut into the west. On the east, above Haweswater, you get deep corries, sharp ridges and a lot of bare rock. Blea Water, the deepest tarn in the Lake District, sits in one of those corries under High Street.

Hartsop is the start for 14 of the 36 fells in our data, more than any other car park. Mardale Head at the end of Haweswater is next, with Nan Bield Pass leading over to Kentmere and Gatescarth Pass to Longsleddale. Both valleys have horseshoe walks of their own.

High Street takes its name from the Roman road over its summit, which linked the forts at Brougham and Ambleside. Its flat top is still called Racecourse Hill on maps, from the fairs held there until 1835.