Trail (UK)

Fairfield Horseshoe Lake District

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The Fairfield Horseshoe is perhaps the most famous of all the ‘horseshoes’. Its summit sits at the head of the deep, south-facing U-shaped valley of Rydal. The enclosing ridges are punctuated by eight individual peaks, defined by steep dramatic slopes on both sides. It is the steepness and clean lines of both the valley and the summits that gives the horseshoe its distinct and identifiab­le appearance.

The enclosing ridges are linked together with an ascent of Fairfield and provide fine highlevel walking with minimal up and down once their crests have been gained. Views are good all round but are best of all once the main ridge is reached. For this reason, and for the trickiness of locating the correct line of descent off the summit, it’s best doing this walk in clear conditions.

The steepest section of the climb is the south-east ridge of Nab Scar, so saving this for descent means the best way to navigate this horseshoe is to do it anticlockw­ise.

 ?? BEN WEEKS ?? The Moidart Horseshoe just has to be on your bucket list!.
BEN WEEKS The Moidart Horseshoe just has to be on your bucket list!.
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 ??  ?? Drink in the views from the main ridge of the Fairfield Horseshoe.
Drink in the views from the main ridge of the Fairfield Horseshoe.

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