High Street

The great north-south ridge of High Street is one of Lakeland's most interesting places; 10km of pretty level ridge (once you are there), often narrow with dramatic slopes falling away each side. A Roman road previously ran along the ridge.

The High street ridge screens Ullswater/Patterdale and the rest of the Lakes from the lower country (and M6 motorway) to the east.

High Street is approachable from Ullswater/Patterdale to the west, and from Shap/Brampton to the east. There isn't a whole heap of remains of the Roman road to be seen, but imagining the legionaries and other travellers trudging this high, lonely ridge is intensely romantic.

We strongly recommend you don't just 'bag' High Street and leave: walk the ridge on the course of the Roman road, perhaps creating a circuit while you are at it.

From Patterdale you wind up the hillside, on the Coast to Coast path to Boredale Hause and then along side-ridges via Angle Tam to The Knott and on to High Street itself. It is really wonderful walking with endlessly changing views.

There are a number of ways of approaching High Street from the Shap/Bampton side, including the shortest route of all, from the head of Haweswater Reservoir.

The top can be featureless in cloud, so take care in bad weather.

There are no less than 25 inspiring Cicerone guide books on the Lake District (their speciality)! Have a look at their website. Find relevant books by using our Amazon search function:

This page is at an early stage of development. Please help usby recommending your best walks and sending photos! Thank you!

See our Lake District page for further photos and general and practical information.