High Stile

High Stile's north-east face is very steep, and few people climb it directly. It is usually walked as the middle of the Buttermere ridge, up Red Pike and along to High Stile and High Crag, or the other way round from Scarth Gap.

Buttermere village has a National Trust car park on the Lorton road, a National Park car park behind the Fish Inn and Bridge Hotel, and a little space above the chapel on the Newlands road. The Honister Rambler (77) runs from Keswick between April and October. From the village a path climbs beside Sourmilk Gill to Bleaberry Tarn, and a branch goes round the eastern end of Chapel Crags onto the ridge. Another path leaves the lake shore for Birkness Comb and the northern spur. The Ennerdale flank is forest and steep bracken, and walkers rarely use it.

The ridges between the three fells are narrow and rough, with a short stretch of steep, loose scree at each end of the traverse. Walk Lakes says it needs care but has no real difficulty. Keep back from the edge above the combs.

Grey Crag

Two cairns stand side by side on the ridge, but the highest point is a little way out along the northern spur above Grey Crag, and about three feet higher. Visit both if you want to be sure. Across Buttermere are the North Western Fells, Ennerdale Water and Crummock Water are both in view, and from the right spot you can see Bleaberry Tarn.

About 11,000 years ago a rock avalanche fell from Grey Crag into Birkness Comb. The debris it left there is unlike anything else in the Lake District.