Haystacks at last

On September 11th 2017 we finally made it to the top of Haystacks, close to Buttermere in Cumbria.  It was Wainwright's favourite Lake District peak, and I had long wanted to climb it - but we had never before stayed in a nearby area.

We started out close to Buttermere, and already the clouds were gathering:

As we crossed the valley floor, Haystacks rose to meet us:

We walked up through the wood and emerged to get our first closer view of Haystacks.

At this point the rain began, and we sought what shelter we could behind a dry stone wall. The rain relented, and we pressed on up the slope.

The final approach to the summit involves some scrambling, but the clouds lifted enough to give glorious views over the lakes and the neighbouring fells.

Wainwright's ashes were scattered close to the summit tarn:

The rain had thankfully abated for the day as we began our descent, but the clouds were down over Dale Head and it was increasingly cold. We could make out Thirlmere in the distance. The heavy rainfall over previous days had swelled the becks, and we unwisely chose a crossing that had become a raging waterfall. We just made it across without falling in, but finished the walk with wet feet.