Do I need to be a member to run these routes?

No. The whole library is public and every route follows public rights of way or open access land. If you enjoy them, come along to a club run and say hello — your first three runs with us are free.

How accurate are the distances and climb figures?

Each route was recorded on at least three separate club runs with GPS watches, then averaged and rounded honestly. Expect your own watch to disagree by a few percent — that is GPS being GPS, not you being slow.

What should I carry on the fell routes?

For anything graded Moderate or Hard: waterproof top and bottoms, hat, gloves, map, compass, whistle and some food. That is the standard fell kit list, and on the Fairfield Horseshoe we mean it even in July.

Can I add a route to the library?

Yes. Email the route librarian a GPX trace and a short honest description. Routes are adopted once a club run has checked the line, the distance and the climb — usually within a month.

When and where does the club meet?

Tuesdays at 18:30 for fell repetitions and Sundays at 09:00 for the long run, both from the Market Cross in Ambleside. No need to book — just turn up ten minutes early.

From the route book

Fairfield Horseshoe

Starts at Rydal Road bridge, Ambleside

Distance: 17.5 km
Climb: 959 m
Surface: Fell and ridge
Grade: Hard

Download GPX fairfield-horseshoe.gpx

Elevation profile

High point 873 m

Distance in kilometres across, elevation in metres up. Hover the chart, or open the data table, for exact figures.

Profile data table

Elevation by distance for Fairfield Horseshoe
Distance	Elevation
0 km	64 m
1.2 km	168 m
2.5 km	296 m
3.7 km	424 m
4.9 km	556 m
5.8 km	612 m
6.4 km	598 m
7.3 km	766 m
8 km	736 m
8.8 km	873 m
9.7 km	748 m
10.5 km	822 m
11.2 km	760 m
11.9 km	792 m
12.8 km	656 m
13.9 km	508 m
15 km	342 m
16.2 km	178 m
17.5 km	64 m

What to expect

The classic horseshoe over eight named tops: up by Nab Scar and Heron Pike, along the ridge to Fairfield's broad summit plateau, then back over Hart Crag, Dove Crag and the Pikes. This is serious mountain running — navigation gets genuinely hard on Fairfield's plateau in mist. Full fell kit, no exceptions.

Elevation profile

What to expect

More from the route book