Fairfield

On the final approach to Fairfield, from Great Rigg

Location: NY 359 118

Getting there: Most popular approach is via the Ambleside Horseshoe, but alternative approaches from Patterdale, Helvellyn or Grasmere.

Height (at cairn on summit): 873m

Prominence: 299m

Map: OS Explorer OL5 and OS Explorer OL7

This giant of the Lake District Fells, nestled in the mountains that tower above Ambleside, has two very different faces, and views out across the National Park.

Approaching the summit of Fairfield, to the left, from Great Rigg

Fairfield has a broad and largely flat summit, marked by cairns rather than a trig point. There is also a shelter on the plateau. On a clear day, views are expansive, and the high, central location means that most of the largest peaks on the Lake District can be seen, including nearby Helvellyn, Scafell Pike and Scafell to the west, and Skiddaw to the north west.

Looking across to Scafell Pike from Fairfield

That said, I have visited this mountain on four separate occasions, and each time I have been enveloped in mist that seemed to appear just before reaching the summit!

A very typical view from the summit of Fairfield in the Lake Distrcit

Most people will visit the summit as part of the Ambleside Horseshoe - although the highest point at 873m requires a little deviation from the path. I prefer to tackle the Ambleside Horseshoe clockwise (though there is no ‘right way’ of doing it - I find this has the benefit of landing me right in the middle of Ambleside at the end of the walk, rather than needing a final return leg from Rydal.

Approching Fairfield from this angle can make the final push for the summit something of a non-event - there is a moderately steep path from Great Rigg to the south, but before you know it you are on the summit!

Viewing Fairfield (left) from the summit of St Sunday Crag

Interestingly, this quirk reveals a lot about Fairfield’s character - four separate ridges lead off the summit to nearby Wainwrights - Hart Crag anmd Great Rigg, on the Ambleside Horseshoe, Seat Sandal to the west and St Sunday Crag to the east. This also means that the plateau drops into four spectacular valleys. In the frequent misty conditions, this can make navigation confusing, with plenty of scope to end up on the wrong path!

The valleys to the south are wide and expansive, but the ones to the north, particularly Deepdale are rocky and interesting, containind mild scrambles and rock climbing routes to the summit.

The view into Deepdale from the summit of Fairfield

Alongside the popular Ambleside Horseshoe, the summit can form part of an ambitious loop of Seat Sandal, Fairfield and Great Rigg, from Grasmere, or a rewarding approach would be from Patterdale and Glenridding, via St Sunday Crag.

For the very ambitious, wanting a big day out, there is also the option of ascending Helvellyn via Striding Edge, continuing south along the ridge to Dollywaggon Pike, before a steep descent and reascent of Fairfield, returning via St Sunday Crag.