Fairfield

Fairfield

Fairfield is an 873.3 m mountain in the Lake District's Eastern Fells, at grid reference NY358117. Its southern ridges form the Fairfield Horseshoe around Rydal Beck. The rounded summit contrasts with steep crags and gullies on the northern side.

Summit and landscape

The surveyed high point is an embedded outcrop within a cairn or shelter. A broad, stony summit area has several cairns and stone wind shelters. Views include Helvellyn, St Sunday Crag, Cofa Pike and the surrounding Lakeland fells; Windermere and Coniston Water can be seen in clear conditions.

Fairfield's rocks belong to the Borrowdale Volcanic Group. The British Geological Survey records the Deepdale Sandstone Formation here, including sandstone formed from volcanic debris, breccia, tuff and lapilli-tuff.

Choosing a route

• Fairfield Horseshoe from Ambleside: a full circuit over Low Pike, High Pike, Dove Crag, Hart Crag, Fairfield, Great Rigg, Heron Pike and Nab Scar, returning through Rydal. Walking Britain's published circuit is about 17.9 km with 1,030 m of ascent and an estimated 8 hours 20 minutes. Starting at Rydal or finishing in Grasmere changes the itinerary.
• From Patterdale via St Sunday Crag: climb via Birks, St Sunday Crag, Deepdale Hause and Cofa Pike. An out-and-back repeats that ridge; a return through Grisedale is a different circuit to plan before setting out.
• Via Grisedale Hause: from Mill Bridge, north of Grasmere, follow Tongue Gill to the hause above Grisedale Tarn, then climb Fairfield's steep, loose western slope. Return the same way, or plan a separate circuit over Great Rigg and Stone Arthur.
• From Rydal via Nab Scar: climb the western arm of the horseshoe over Heron Pike and Great Rigg, then retrace the ridge to Rydal. This remains a substantial mountain outing.
• Via Deepdale: the valley approach from Bridgend reaches Deepdale Hause and Cofa Pike. Continuing afterwards over St Sunday Crag and Birks requires retracing Cofa Pike and arranging the valley return from Patterdale. The full Deepdale ridge horseshoe via Hart Crag and Hartsop above How is a different round.

These are route outlines. Use a detailed map for the complete start, summit and return plan. The summit is on OS Explorer OL5; the full Ambleside horseshoe also extends onto OL7.

Access and facilities

Pelter Bridge is a small, often busy pay-and-display car park for a Rydal start. Ambleside is another base for the full horseshoe; choose parking to match the route rather than treating Rydal Water as the start for every approach. Stagecoach 555 and 599 buses link Windermere, Ambleside, Rydal and Grasmere. Check current services and the last return journey.

Ambleside has shops and places to eat. Public toilets are listed at Rydal Road, Rothay Park and White Platts; check opening arrangements. Carry food and water for the mountain section.

Safety

Low cloud can make the broad summit difficult to navigate. Several paths converge and fade among the stones, with steep ground close to the northern edge: confirm the correct descent before leaving the top. Cofa Pike has a narrow, rocky ridge; the western approach has loose scree. Wet rock, boggy sections, strong wind and fatigue can slow progress. Do not improvise a descent into the northern gullies.

Check a mountain forecast and carry a map, compass, waterproofs, warm layers and a headtorch. Snow and ice can hide paths and make the ridges much more serious; winter equipment needs the skills to use it. Allow enough daylight for the full return. For a mountain emergency, call 999 or 112, ask for Police, then Mountain Rescue.

Local heritage

The name is associated with the level summit plateau; Wainwright Routes cites a Rydal estate description from 1671. At the southern end of the horseshoe, Rydal Mount was William Wordsworth's home from 1813 until 1850.