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8

Fairfield 873m/2864ft

Start
Climb it from	Deepdale Bridge 23, Dunmail Raise 8, Winterseeds 9, Rydal Mount 15 or Pelter Bridge 16
Character	A flat-topped favourite, its rugged qualities held securely within Deepdale
Fell-friendly route	9
Summit grid ref	NY 359 118
Link it with	Great Rigg, Hart Crag or St Sunday Crag

Presiding over the southern part of the Near Eastern Fells and separated from the Helvellyn massif by the deep trough of Grisedale, Fairfield is a fine mountain. The popularity of the Fairfield Horseshoe on the south side notwithstanding, the fell reserves its most stunning qualities for its northern slopes. Observers high on St Sunday Crag, or within the secretive depths of Deepdale, are privy to a ferocious gallery of crags each interlaced with runs of scree which stream into the barren dale heads of Link and Cawk Coves.

Most of the fell, however, falls away as rather featureless slopes, so the daily procession on the Horseshoe, knowing little more than these plainer aspects, must value it as a viewpoint, notably the breathtaking view north across the headwall of Grisedale towards Helvellyn.

Of the five natural lines of ascent, the best by far, and the least tested (1), climbs pathless out of Deepdale into Link Cove to mount the Step. The ‘Horseshoe’ ridges rising from the Rothay valley give simple connections from Great Rigg (8-9) and Hart Crag (not described here). A formless scree-infested west shoulder leads up from Grisedale Hause (3), while the finest ridge, that from St Sunday Crag, mounts from Deepdale Hause over Cofa Pike (2). Over recent decades three paths have also evolved climbing direct from Grisedale Tarn – two lines leading to Deepdale Hause (5–6) and one, a far from pleasant stony chase, direct to Cofa Pike (4).

Fairfield from Gavel Pike, with Hart Crag left

Ascent from Deepdale Bridge 23 off map E

A grand walk-in that only improves as the drama of the dale head unfolds but no place for the walker who is unattuned to wilder fell terrain, nor when cloud swirls and the heavens threaten to open.

Via Greenhow End →6.7km/4¼ miles ↑720m/2360ft 3hr 30min

1 Follow the walled lane to Lane Head. Bear left at the gate along a track that leads on above Deepdale Hall Farm and Wall End. Once Coldcove Gill is crossed the dale’s countenance, bereft of trees, turns wilder and, in certain lights, austere. The valley path diminishes as it advances along the floor of the dale to weave over the drumlin field, with Greenhow End in looming impressively ahead. Pass beyond the moraines and, as two becks run parallel on the left of the path, ford them and slant up in front of Mart Crag (a popular little climbing crag). Keep to the steep, pathless, grassy slope to the right of an eroded gill close under Greenhow End. Resist the temptation to step onto a grassy shelf, unless you are a suitably competent scrambler. An obvious line of weakness between rock bands permits a steep line up grass and boulders to a point where the rock band on the right gives way to suitably easier ground. From here climb to a notch on the skyline. Locate and follow a thin ridge path left via the Step onto the plateau, where stirring perspectives on impressive rock architecture are the rich reward. Follow sheep tracks up to the ridge path, where turn right (W) to march uneventfully to the summit. Given calm weather, you could follow the sheep track along the northern edge for more dramatic views.