High Rigg

A church stands on the pass halfway along High Rigg, the low ridge between Thirlmere and St John's in the Vale, about three miles south east of Keswick. Crags, knolls and small tarns fill the rest of its length.

From the church, the top is about twenty minutes away with 120 m of climbing, one of the shortest ascents of any Wainwright. For the whole ridge, start at the United Utilities car park at Legburthwaite, just off the A591 on the B5322, with the 555 bus stopping nearby. Climb through the woods to Wren Crag and follow the knobbly spine north past High Rigg Tarn to the summit, then drop to the church and walk back along the valley floor. The loop is about five miles.

The north and south ends are gentle grass slopes, while the east and west flanks break into steep rocky outcrops. The ridge path goes up and down constantly but has no big climbs. Watch children near the steeper drops on the last section, and expect boggy ground around the tarn.

A cairn marks the top. Skiddaw and Blencathra fill the view to the north, the Helvellyn range lines the east, and Thirlmere lies to the south. On a clear day the Scafell group shows to the west over Bleaberry Fell.

The church of St John's is tiny and usually open to walkers. Tewit Tarn, a shallow pool on a shelf at the northern end of the ridge, marks the start of the longest version of the walk, a three mile traverse that finishes near Shoulthwaite.