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Lake District Entertainment > About The Lake District > The Fells Of The Lake District > High Street
High StreetHigh Street is the name given to a fell in the English Lake district. Its summit is 2,718 feet high making it the highest measurable altitude of the national park. The name was chosen because of the Roman road that ran over the High Street summit. The High Street range is located in one of the quieter parts of the Lake District and has gentle slopes whose summit is a flat plateau. These characteristics resulted in the decision of the Roman surveyors to build their road above the fell tops instead of through the valleys. At the time the fell tops had dense forestry and marshes which would have made an ambush quite easy.Another purpose for the flat surface of the High Street’s summit was as a summer fair venue during the 18th and 19th centuries. Each year on the 12th of July residents of the surrounding valleys would gather in order to return sheep to their rightful owners and play games and wrestle. Horseracing would also take place during the summer fairs that were held on the High Street summit which today is still called Racecourse Hill. In fact, you can still find fell ponies grazing on the summit from time to time. No more summer fairs were held after 1835. The source of the River Kent comes from High Street’s southern slopes. Its ability to drop 1000 feet in 25 miles gives the Kent a reputation as the fasting flowing river not just in the Lakeland District but throughout England. The eastern side of High Street is rocky and steep when it descends towards Haweswater Reservoir. There are two tarns that flow below the eastern crags of High Street, Blea Water and Small Water. Blea Water is located in a mountain corrie and is the deepest tarn in the Lake District at 200 feet. You can ascent High Street if you do it from the east. If you start from Mardale, you will experience an exciting walk along the ridge of High Street that includes picturesque views into Riggindale. You may add to the excitement by viewing a Golden Eagle as Riggindale is the only place in England where you will find a pair of these birds nesting. You can also climb High Street from Patterdale, Kentmere and Troutbeck, but these routes are not as interesting although if you walk from Troutbeck you will be able to follow the line that that identifies the Roman road. If you attempt to travel south to north on the traverse of the ridge of High Street Fell, you will discover that as you approach Ings near Windermere, the valley that is situated at the northern end of Ullswater is a very difficult 30 kilometre hike. You will be crossing over twelve summits, thus this route should only be undertaken by experienced walkers. Walking through other areas of High Street will provide less treacherous walking for the inexperienced thus reducing the chance for accident or injury. Mountain climbing or walking is a sport that should be undertaken with caution, and when advised by guidebooks and other experienced sources, stay with those routes that are easier for a new mountain walker |
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