The Fairfield group continues the line of the Helvellyn range southwards from Grisedale Tarn to the Kirkstone Pass. It is sufficiently divided from the other fells to be regarded as a separate section with independent lines of approach. Apart from the deep depressions at Grisedale Tarn and the Kirkstone Pass, the other boundaries are formed by the valleys of the Rothay to the west, and Patterdale on the eastern side. Fairfield and it's neighbours like Helvellyn show their finest wares to Patterdale, and the best ascents are from this side up the little valleys of Dovedale and Deepdale where the faces of Dove Crag and Greenhow End will be seen dominating the climb. The ridge over Hartsop Above How too is a grand way to the main tops, but the royal road to Fairfield must be over St Sunday Crag. The western side too has considerable dales biting into the mass, but here it is the ridges that carry the popular routes with the famous 'Fairfield Horseshoe' among them. Several other circuits or horseshoes can be identified within the group giving first rate lines of ascent to the principal ridge. St Sunday Crag and Red Screes are reviewed here as part of the Fairfield system, and indeed are often combined with the main summit during a walk. These two fells do have a sense of separate identity, and have their own minor summits or satellites adding to the choices available for exploration and ascent. St Sunday Crag has one of the finest views of Ullswater, and the eastern side of the Helvellyn fells are well displayed, as is Fairfield itself, which can be reached from here along the best ridge in the group involving some easy rock handling up to the peak of Cofa Pike. A combination of searching out the recesses and coves on the Patterdale side with the extensive views on reaching the summits makes this a rewarding group of hills. It is a great pity that so many people cross Fairfield on the renowned ?horseshoe' without even making the simple short detours to look down the crags. Fairfield is much more than an elevated promenade.

ROUTE ONE. FAIRFIELD FROM PATTERDALE OR GLENRIDDING VIA ARNISON CRAG, BIRKS AND ST SUNDAY CRAG.
4.5 miles 3150ft of ascent from Patterdale and 3000ft of ascent from Glenridding direct to Birks.

  Starting from Patterdale take the path to Grisedale which runs behind the Patterdale Hotel. (Can also be accessed from the public conveniences). At a gate in the wall coming down the fell turn up the path by the wall and climb steadily to a point where it begins a slight descent. Here a short climb on the left on a thin path brings the rocky top of Arnison Crag underfoot. There may be a cairn or not as I have tried over the years to restore them as some worthy person equally wishes to destroy them. Return to the path at the wall after admiring the view, and follow it left crossing a hollow before traversing a low ridge. When the shallow pass of Trough Head is crossed bear right up the bank to the old wall which almost takes you onto the ridge of Birks. The path over Birks is met a few yards away, and an easy section can be savoured prior to tackling the climb to St Sunday Crag. This well worn path is the route from Grisedale over Thornhow End. At the top of this section by some fine rocks there is one of the finest views of Ullswater. A simple walk is all that remains to the summit beyond which a well defined ridge goes down to Deepdale Hause with the peak of Cofa Pike ahead changing shape as progress is made. The rocks below Cofa Pike are an enjoyable scramble and the tiny top an airy place. From here the path up the eroded slope in front can be climbed, or more pleasurably keep ahead across the face to easier ground before curving left onto the summit of Fairfield. The lane into Grisedale is the first objective from Glenridding. Where the path from Patterdale comes in at a gate take it, but immediately and bravely tackle the steep slope ahead. The path does not visit Birks, but the summit is soon gained after the gradient eases if desired. Now the journey corresponds with the Patterdale start.

ROUTE TWO. FAIRFIELD FROM HARTSOP VIA HARTSOP ABOVE HOW AND HART CRAG.
3.5 miles 2600ft of ascent.

   Go over the bridge from the car park at Cow Bridge and through the gate on the left. Immediately turn up a steep path through the trees which passes through deer fences before thankfully swinging left and easing in severity. Good views of Brothers Water are compensation for further efforts to gain the ridge by some cairns. The path here runs left parallel to the wall and climbing before coming to a stile over which the main ridge path from Bridgend (a possible alternative start) will be joined. This track has become well worn over the years, and much naked peat is encountered during the ascent not only to Hartsop Above How but across the depression beyond. It will seem further perhaps to Hartsop Above How than expected but keep going, and don't miss the summit perched high above Dovedale. After negotiating the wet depression either follow the path left of the shoulder of Hart Crag, or take the better line and use the path climbing the rocks on the shoulder to the upper slopes. The summit cairn lies just beyond the path crossing the summit from Dove Crag to Fairfield. A short stony descent leads down to Link Hause with Scrubby Crag prominent followed by a simple climb over rocks to the gentle summit ridge. Make sure a few peeps are made down the northern face on the way for this is Fairfield's finest scenery. A good way back to Brothers Water is over Hart Crag and Dove Crag; there branching off the main ridge to drop down to Little Hart Crag, and finally descending over High Hartsop Dodd

ROUTE THREE. FAIRFIELD FROM AMBLESIDE VIA LOW PIKE, HIGH PIKE, DOVE CRAG AND HART CRAG.
5.5 miles 3250ft of ascent.

  At the foot of the Kirkstone Road take the first lane to the left (Low Nook Lane) and follow it all the way to Low Sweden Bridge. A wide track now proceeds up the ridge gradually becoming the normal walker's footpath as height is gained. Rougher parts alternate with wetter ground as far as High Pike. The summit of Low Pike lies off the main path and is gained by a short climb by the wall. There are paths either side of the ridge wall higher up; that on the western side being the best generally though the cairn on High Pike lies to the east when the steep climbing levels out. Dove Crag is now a mile away up a widening ridge, and the top is marked by a cairn on a little rock base again east of the wall. In the depression below Hart Crag the wall gives up and the path makes it's way up a stony slope to the summit. After a short rough descent there is some simple rock scrambling to gain the almost level top of Fairfield. Don't forget to look down the northern face! Naturally the return to Ambleside will be to complete the ?horseshoe? down the ridge to Rydal that features in Route Four. 

ROUTE FOUR. FAIRFIELD FROM RYDAL VIA NAB SCAR, HERON PIKE, AND GREAT RIGG.
4.25 miles 2950ft of ascent

   Go up the lane by the church and Rydal Mount. At the head of the lane the path to Nab Scar bears off to the left, and with the improved surface and gradients since it's realignment the ascent is far less arduous than it used to be. Fine views of Rydal Water are seen higher up, and then just beyond a stile the big cairn on Nab Scar is attained; though the summit is no higher than the surrounding area. A fine new cairn has recently been built where the path from Alcock Tarn reaches the ridge. Some easy ground ahead is succeeded by a steady climb to Heron Pike where a splash of quartz in the rocks will be noticed. The twin top above Erne Crag can be visited next across a slight depression, and then the ridge levels until the base of Great Rigg is reached. Some rocks higher up are a welcome sight, but from Great Rigg to Fairfield there is little to excite apart from the thought of nearing the target. On the summit make sure the views down the northern face are seen before presumably heading off towards Hart Crag to complete the ?horseshoe?.

ROUTE FIVE. FAIRFIELD FROM GRASMERE VIA STONE ARTHUR AND GREAT RIGG. 3.5 miles 2800ft of ascent. 

   Walk up the lane by the Swan Hotel and turn into a narrower one with Greenhead Gill flowing down on the right. At the gate where the path to Alcock Tarn crosses the stream turn left and ascend steeply by the wall. The path levels out and contours the hillside by a ruined wall before curving up the fell to Stone Arthur. There are two choices here with the one on the right the better underfoot. The summit despite hardly topping the ridge has some quality because of it's fine rocks. The climb continues up pleasant rock strewn rises before a grassy expanse goes up to join the path from Rydal on Great Rigg. Some rocks below the top offer a bit of variety which the final mile to Fairfield does not. If the shelter is full and the weather is good sit down on the summit edge, and savour the scenery of Cofa Pike and Greenhow End. The sandwiches will taste a lot better here! Other than the same return there are several options. A direct decent to Grisedale Hause is not very pleasant, and a longer way round over Cofa Pike to Deepdale Hause is recommended. Here a path on the left swings back and down to Grisedale Tarn with a short ascent then to the hause. The path down Tongue Gill has been much improved and is a good finish to the descent. Best of all if time and energy permits is to traverse the ridge over Great Rigg and Heron Pike to the level area below Lord Crag. A path here adjacent to a fine new cairn branches off on the right for Alcock Tarn and so down to Grasmere.

ROUTE SIX. FAIRFIELD FROM GRASMERE VIA SEAT SANDAL.
4.25 miles 3150ft of ascent. To Seat Sandal it is 3 miles 2200ft of ascent

      The ascent starts north of the Travellers Rest Inn at the bend in the road. At the confluence of the streams below Great Tongue bear left by Little Tongue Gill. A narrow track follows the intake wall across to the south ridge of Seat Sandal where a long climb though in pleasant surroundings begins. There is a good path up the fell which is not the case descending to Grisedale Hause, and it is far better to go down the north slope by the wall, and then traverse above the tarn to the hause. The sterile slopes of Fairfield rise all too clearly ahead, but ascent is better than coming down here so boldly set forth, and after much slipping and sliding the summit will eventually be reached. Descents are best made over Great Rigg to Stone Arthur but care is needed near the bottom above Greenhead Gill.

ROUTE SEVEN. RED SCREES FROM HARTSOP AND KIRKSTONEFOOT VIA HIGH HARTSOP DODD, LITTLE HART CRAG AND MIDDLE DODD.
4.5 miles 2550ft of ascent.

    From Cow Bridge take the track by Brothers Water to Hartsop Hall where the path to Kirkstone or Scandale Passes is indicated at a stile beyond the farm. The path runs alongside some outer buildings before following a broader track across a field notable for some large embedded boulders to a barn at the foot of High Hartsop Dodd. A well worn path tackles the steep ridge and the usually recognised summit is the first rise above the cross wall marked by a small cairn. The ridge widens as it continues to Little Hart Crag which has twin tops and is distinguished by some crags and tiny pools. Leaving this fine summit take the little path from the ridge below to the left and descend to Scandale Pass. Ahead is a steady climb by the wall with a little outcropping rock to contrast with some spongy places elsewhere. If Middle Dodd is to be included in the ascent cross the grassy fellside left as the gradient eases and traverse the slopes to join a wall which leads to the slight depression near the Dodd. The summit is marked by some unusual pits which appear natural yet seem unexpected here. Turn around now and ascend the curving ridge up to Red Screes while enjoying the views of the Kirkstone Pass road below. Middle Dodd may of course be visited after Red Screes in order to use the ridge beyond as a way down. This is quite feasible but at times the gradient is steep. Watch out for a vertical crag just below the cross wall.

ROUTE EIGHT. RED SCREES FROM AMBLESIDE VIA SNARKER PIKE.
3.25 miles 2350ft of ascent.

       The path begins almost a mile up the Kirkstone road on the left just above the bridleway to Roundhill Farm on the other side of the road. It is marked by a twin gate, and rises as a rather untidy lane mostly between walls until at a stepstile more open country is reached. Avoiding the wet ground as best as you can follow the path as it curves up to the right to gain the ridge. The top of Snarker Pike is at the crest of the next steeper rise on the other side of the wall. Do not explore further here as the Kirkstone slate quarry is adjacent as the warning signs hereabouts indicate. Return to the path and resume the ascent safely if admittedly rather lacking in interest apart from the view. The summit is reached beyond a more level section behind the small rounded Red Screes Tarn. Scandale Pass is the obvious route back to Ambleside. Head in a westerly direction down a path that has become noticeable only in recent years to a wall descending to the pass; where turn left into the valley.