Everything about High Stile totally explained
High Stile is a
mountain in the western part of the
Lake District in northwest
England. It is the eleventh highest
Marilyn, standing 807 metres (2,648 ft) high, and has a
relative height of 362 metres.(1,187 ft)
It is the highest in the range of fells extending north west from
Great Gable towards
Loweswater, and together with its satellites,
Red Pike and
High Crag, forms a trio of fells overlooking the lake and village of
Buttermere. On this side are high crags, wild combes and a small tarn,
Bleaberry Tarn. High Stile is most easily ascended as part of a traverse of the three fells.
Topography
The
Western Fells occupy a triangular sector of the Lake District, bordered by the River Cocker to the north east and
Wasdale to the south east. Westwards the hills diminish toward the coastal plain of Cumberland. At the central hub of the high country are
Great Gable and its satellites, while two principal ridges fan out on either flank of
Ennerdale, the western fells in effect being a great horseshoe around this long wild valley. The highest section of the northern branch is formed by the trio of
Buttermere fells,
High Crag, High Stile and
Red Pike.
The Buttermere Fells, also known as Buttermere Edge, form the watershed between
Buttermere and Upper
Ennerdale. The Ennerdale flanks are steep and rough with areas of crag, the lower slopes being planted with a ribbon of conifers. Across the narrow ridge-top to the north are deep
corries and dark walls of crag, glowering down over the lake. The ridge continues south east to
Haystacks and the Great Gable group. Beyond Red Pike to the west are
Starling Dodd,
Great Borne and the
Loweswater Fells.
All three Buttermere Fells throw out a short spur towards the lake with deep combs hollowed out between them. North west of High Stile is Bleaberry Comb, backed by the wall of Chapel Crags. Nestled deep within is Bleaberry Tarn, a pool which is on continual shadow from November to March. Despite the steep contours of the rock walls above, the tarn is only about 15 ft deep, and is well stocked with trout.. Bleaberry Tarn is drained into Buttermere by Sourmilk Gill, reaching the lake mere yards from its outlet. A belt of trees has been planted along the shoreline. Birkness Comb
There are the remains of a small
copper mine near the shore of Buttermere. This was worked from 1569 to 1570 and again in the 1820s.
Summit and View
The highest point lies a little way out onto the northern spur at the top of Grey Crag, marked by a
cairn. The highest point on the main ridge is only 3 feet lower and was regarded as the summit by
Alfred Wainwright, the maps available at the time not deciding the issue. This top has two main cairns side by side. In an attempt to avoid confusion some guidebooks refer to the summit as Grey Crag and the top on the ridge as High Stile.
.
The view is extensive, the highlight perhaps being the
North Western Fells across the Buttermere valley.
Ennerdale Water and
Crummock Water are in view and careful steps toward the brink can also add Bleaberry Tarn to the picture. Fine views of the crags of the surrounding combs complete the foreground.
Ascents
The fell is usually ascended as a traverse of the 'Buttermere Three', as the north eastern flank is very steep and rough. Strong walkers may continue the walk towards
Haystacks, four miles to the south east. The direct ascent from
Ennerdale (through
forest and steep
bracken) isn't found in guidebooks. The fell is climbed as part of
Variation 1 on the
Coast to Coast Walk.
Direct ascents can be made if desired via either of the northern combs. From the shore of Buttermere a path runs up into Birkness Comb from where the northern spur can be gained. From Buttermere village the path to Bleaberry Tarn can be used, branching off to find a line around the eastern end of Chapel Crags. If climbing from Ennerdale the route up Red Pike may be used.
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