Fairfield Horseshoe
Fairfield Horseshoe
our day out with The Epicentre
our day out with The Epicentre
Fairfield Horseshoe - Our day out with The Epicentre & ARC'TERYX
With more and more people travelling to Lakes every year to experience its natural beauty and undeniable charm, it comes as no surprise that plenty visit with the aim to take to the fells. Days filled with adventure and exploration is a given when visiting the World Heritage Site. But what if fell walking is completely new to you?
Without the correct knowledge and guidance, the magnificent mountains can be daunting and tricky to conquer. Although there is an abundance of help online and from other sources, there’s nothing like the knowledge from an experienced mountaineer. The Epicentre, Ambleside's premier outdoor clothing and equipment shop, have carefully curated the perfect package in collaboration with the worldwide outdoor brand ARC'TERYX, offering an ideal opportunity for those who may be less experienced or confident on the fells.
An adventure completely tailored to your group, The Epicentre now offer guided walks with Arc'teryx Global Ambassador and International Mountain Guide, Adrian Nelhams. The walk is decided on the capability, fitness and enthusiasm of the group, allowing the day to be exactly what you want it to be. From a gentle stroll, to wainwright ticking hikes, nothing is off limits.
The Walk
When we found out our friends down at The Epicentre had launched the new guided walks, naturally we were dying to experience one for ourselves. Super easy to access and book, we booked onto one of the walks via their website, in which we received a confirmation email containing all the important information regarding our walk, but also a handy little list of what to bring.
Meeting at the shop in the bustling center of Ambleside, the Epicentre staff were so friendly and accommodating. Once we arrived, we were taken up to the exclusive Arc'teryx floor where there is perfectly laid out, vibrant Arc'teryx equipment, and where we were greeted by Adrian himself. After a quick catch up and a brew, Adrian outlined the plan for the day, along with asking us on our walk preferences and our fitness abilities. It was then decided that we would tackle the popular classic, the Fairfield Horseshoe.
8 wainwrights, 10.2 miles, and 995 metres of elevation, this walk is definitely not for the faint hearted but a great walk for those who want to truly explore the fells. The full loop covers rocky terrain, with boulders and scree on many parts of the trail.
Before heading off, we were offered a range of Arc’teryx test kit to try out on our walk. From waterproof and insulated jackets to backpacks, we picked out our selected pieces and it was safe to say it was a “all the gear no idea moment”, but regardless, we felt the part.
We began our walk from the shop, making our way through the town to a footpath leading to Nook End Farm. Once on the footpath, it was a pretty clear route at a steady incline, nothing too intense. Adrian pointed out that there was a stone wall to our left which would work as our guide nearly the whole way up the first few peaks. The first three peaks; Low Pike, High Pike and Dove Crag were definitely the most challenging, undertaking steep inclines on rough, rocky terrain, with moments of short scrambles.
Fortunately, we had a beautiful warm spring day, however this came with its own challenges of overheating and the need to hydrate more than usual. This made the steady stretch up to Dove Crag feel a long slog, but it was also a good place to take advantage of the slight gradient to get your breath back.
From Dove Crag, there’s a progressive downhill dip, where we were then met with the admittedly, slightly daunting sight of Hart Crag. The climb to the top of Hart Crag looks worse than it is, we took it at a steady pace, which most certainly made it more manageable. Up and over, the crown jewel awaits. Rightly holding the name of the route, Fairfield is the highest point of the hike. The large, flat summit provides views of surrounding valleys and mountain ranges. From here, Heron Pike and Nab Scar were left. As we were making a decent from Fairfield, there wasn’t much left to climb for these two, however a bit of effort was still needed to make the peaks.
Throughout, the views were simply spectacular. Seeing sights of Windermere Lake, Coniston, Rydal Water and Grasmere, along with breathtaking scenery of the surrounding fells. Once we had gotten to the bottom of Nab Scar, we made our way back to the shop where we returned our test kit and had a very well deserved (and needed) sit down.
Both the Epicentre staff and Adrian were so helpful and accommodating throughout our time with them. We couldn’t have been looked after more on the walk and we felt very much in safe hands, with constant support and encouragement. I would highly recommend the experience to anyone who wants to explore the Lakes, or even just for a fun day out on the tops.