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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Trail Magazine

December 13, 2019

Hiking

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

Hiking

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

Rides’n’Ridges

November 25, 2020

Hiking

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.

Nearby routes

Best routes near Fairfield Summit

4.8

(414)

3,598

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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

4.8

(45)

477

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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)

204

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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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Elevation 920 m

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yes

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

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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

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