Indy's first ascent of Hay Stacks, which was to become a favourite

STD

Hay Stacks [W]

INDY Jun 25, 2024 Gatesgarth, Scarth Gap, Hay Stacks, Innominate Tarn, Warnscale Beck
Distance 7.23 km, Time 2.56 h, Total Ascent 570 m Imperial | MetricWainwright Pictorial Guide: The Western Fells

INDY SAYS: Now I understand why Woofright said that he liked this fell so much. It's brilliant, I love it!
A bit of scrambling on Hay Stacks, but I can do it. Plenty of water, tarns to swim in, Happy Days! Tired though.

Hiking Hay Stacks as AW recommends, from Gatesgarth with the return via Warnscale Beck. It was cloudy and eerie, not many hikers were about. We enjoyed it immensely

Start point, map and route information at bottom of page

We caught the bus to Gatesgarth and were on our way by about 9:25.
The weather was mixed, but we were both eager to get cracking. This is a half-day walk, not too strenuous but a proper climb nonetheless.
Descent via Warnscale a little hard on the knees on the top section.

The very beginning of Scarth Gap - Come on!

Climbing Scarth Gap, we appear to have the entire fellside to ourselves. With the rocky form of Hay Stacks ahead, there is an eery silence as clouds drift by

Looking back over Buttermere and Crummock Water, low clouds

An engineered stone path at this point

Reflection in the tarn near Hay Stacks summit.
The clamber to the summit was a little more difficult than I expected, on a couple of occasions I had to help Indy up with the harness.
Perhaps there was an easier route that we missed...

We are totally alone on the fell, looking down here toward Bassenthwaite

Hurrah! But those clouds look a bit ominous

Our first sight of Innominate Tarn.
The view to the left of us has completely disappeared

To Indy's delight, a cool down and play in Innominate Tarn.
Her only company, a small family of ducks

Further down I met two women coming up from Honister who claimed that there are always ducks in Innominate Tarn because the National Trust puts them there

Still no one around, little did we know that this is far from always the case on Hay Stacks

Warnscale Beck, our route back to Gatesgarth. Our path is on the right.
Buttermere straight ahead, Crummock Water beyond.

The High Stile Range, covered in cloud. We have our lunch here, bus in 30 mins

Waiting for the bus, Indy flops to the floor on standby mode

Start:
1) "Honister rambler" bus from Keswick to Gatesgarth
2) Limited car parking at Gatesgarth [NY 19455 14999]
Route:
Gatesgarth, Scarth Gap, Hay Stacks, Innominate Tarn, Warnscale Beck Distance 7.23 km, Time 2.56 h, Total Ascent 570 m
Route maps from Ordnance Survey are scaled 1:25000 unless mentioned otherwise.
Km, hike time and metres of ascent as supplied by OS. Planned route

Route Map and Details

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