High Street Walk
Hartsop - Pasture Beck - Threshthwaite Cove - Thornthwaite Crag - High Street - The Knott - Hayeswater Gill - Hartsop
High Street takes its unusual name from the Roman road which traverses its summit, built by the Romans as a means of travelling between their forts of Brocavum (Brougham) in the north east of the Lake District and Galava (Ambleside) in southern Lakeland. This part of Lakeland is less popular with tourists, and as such it offers a quieter walk.
This walk begins at Hartsop, a smal village to the east of Brother's Water, half way between Patterdale (to the north) and the Kirkstone Pass Inn (to the south). Leaving the eastern end of Hartsop, the path heads south-east and immediately forks. Take the route heading south, cross the beck and follow the path south-east, alongside Pasture Beck. The path continues through Pasture Bottom, south-south-east, and into Threshthwaite Cove, before rising quite steeply up to Threshthwaite Mouth. From here, head south-east towards the large beacon on Thornthwaite Crag. The path then curves to the left, and begins to head north-north-east and then north, to the wide, grassy summit of High Street. The top of High Street is to the right of the main path - in poor weather it may be easier to bear right and follow the wall up to the summit cairn.
The route then continues north, following the wall, over the beautifully named 'Straits of Riggindale', to The Knott. From the summit of The Knott, the path heads to the west, then north west towars Angle Tarn. However, instead of follwong this path, bear left, and walk south as if to head beneath the crags of The Knott. As you are about to reach the white rocky scree, the path turns to the right and heads west, descending toward a point just north of Hayeswater. As the path reaches Hayeswater Gill it follows the course for a few yards before crossing over and following the southern bank. The path soon breaks away from the Gill and heads west. As the path meets with Hayeswater Gill again, cross the river and continue west along the path back to Hartsop.
Approx. distance: 6.7 miles
Approx. total ascent: 2447 feet
Approx. time: 3-4 hours