Hikes to Fairfield’s rounded summit take you to the central hub of the high fells to the south of the Helvellyn range. In keeping with the character of the rest of the Eastern Fells, Fairfield is characterised by gradually sweeping, grassy ridges to the south and west, and dramatic walls of crag where magnificent buttresses are riven by deep gullies to the east.

This Highlight is in a protected area

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Lake District National Park

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Location: Patterdale, Eden, Cumbria, North West England, England, United Kingdom

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Best Hikes to Fairfield Summit

4.8

(395)

3,474

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1. Fairfield Horseshoe from Ambleside — Lake District National Park

17.7km

06:01

890m

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Hard

4.9

(42)

463

hikers

2. The Deepdale Horseshoe from Patterdale

18.0km

06:36

940m

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Hard

4.9

(16)

199

hikers

3. St Sunday Crag, Fairfield & Grisedale Tarn loop from Patterdale — Lake District National Park

16.0km

06:13

900m

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Hard

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Trail Magazine

December 13, 2019

Centrepiece of its namesake horseshoe, Fairfield is rarely a walker’s sole goal. Instead it is renowned as the highest point of the much-frequented Fairfield Horseshoe, a looped ridge walk bagging several summits. Starting at either Ambleside or Rydal, the easy, airy hiking over grassy slopes makes this an ideal beginner’s ridge walk.

Breeze

September 2, 2019

Consider an anticlockwise route so you have stronger legs for the scrambling up the Eastern ridge!

Rides’n’Ridges

November 25, 2020

A great ridge walk from Ambleside. Great views over Helvellyn, St Sunday Crag and many others. On a good day you can see almost all the Lakeland fells and many of the lakes as well as Morecambe Bay.

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Informations

Elevation 920 m

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Family Friendly

yes

Wheelchair access

Dog Friendly

yes

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Max wind speed: 33.0 km/h

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Location: Patterdale, Eden, Cumbria, North West England, England, United Kingdom

Other Popular Places to Check Out

Rydal Cave

Grasmere Village

View of Grasmere from Helm Crag

View from Nab Scar

Fairfield Ridge: Great Rigg to Heron Pike

View of Grasmere from the Coffin Route

Red Screes Summit Cairn

Gibson Knott

View of Grisedale Tarn

Helvellyn Summit Shelter

Red Tarn

Fairfield Summit

1. Fairfield Horseshoe from Ambleside — Lake District National Park

2. The Deepdale Horseshoe from Patterdale

3. St Sunday Crag, Fairfield & Grisedale Tarn loop from Patterdale — Lake District National Park

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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