Heron Pike – Great Rigg summit loop from Lakes

Hiking trails & Routes

Heron Pike – Great Rigg summit loop from Lakes

Hard

4.8

(6)

hikers

Heron Pike – Great Rigg summit loop from Lakes

07:29

19.9km

1,200m

Hiking

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: July 18, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Lake District National Park

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

915 m

High Wood

Forest

1.43 km

View of Grasmere from the Coffin Route

Highlight (Segment) • Viewpoint

Stop here for a stunning view across the lake. You might miss it if you're doing the walk clockwise.

Tip by

5.54 km

View from Nab Scar

Highlight • Viewpoint

On clear days you have a cracking views overlooking Rydal and Rydal Cave.

Tip by

5.54 km

View of Rydal Water

Highlight • Lake

Take a rest and look at the majestic view

Tip by

5.97 km

View from Nab Scar of Grasmere and Rydal Water

Highlight • Viewpoint

This point marks the Wainwright summit of the fell - Nab Scar. You'll find a large cairn on the top, along with excellent views down to Grasmere and Rydal Water.

Tip by

7.30 km

Heron Pike

Highlight • Viewpoint

Heron Pike is a fell in the Eastern Wainwrights. It's commonly hiked as part of the Fairfield Horseshoe. It can be reached using either Grasmere or Rydal as a starting point.

Tip by

9.47 km

Great Rigg is a muscular, 2,513-foot (766 m) summit that forms one of the central fells on the classic Fairfield Horseshoe circuit above Ambleside. Keeping in character with Fairfield's western outliers, it is predominantly grassy and poses little by way of technical difficulty. What it does offer, however, are stonking views to Windermere and to the west, where the Coniston Fells and the rest of the Southern Fells form a tumultuous skyline.

Tip by

10.9 km

Fairfield Summit

Highlight • Trail

Centrepiece of its namesake horseshoe, Fairfield is rarely a walker’s sole goal. Instead it is renowned as the highest point of the much-frequented Fairfield Horseshoe, a looped ridge walk bagging several summits. Starting at either Ambleside or Rydal, the easy, airy hiking over grassy slopes makes this an ideal beginner’s ridge walk.

Tip by

17.6 km

Alcock Tarn

Highlight • Lake

After the trail has been abandoned and the descent to Grassmere has begun, this small, idyllic mountain lake called "Alcock Tam" invites you to linger. The ducks that inhabit it are surprisingly trusting. A wonderful place to enjoy a moment of peace and to gather strength for the last stage of the round trip.

Translated by Google •

Tip by