High Street (fell)
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| High Street (fell) | |
|---|---|
.png) | |
| Name | High Street |
| Elevation m | 828 |
| Range | Lake District |
| Location | Cumbria, England |
| Grid ref | NY431153 |
High Street (fell) High Street (fell) is a prominent fell in the Lake District of Cumbria, England, rising to 828 metres and forming a long, broad ridge that dominates the surrounding dales. It occupies a central position between Ullswater, Haweswater and the upper reaches of the River Kent and is renowned for its Roman road crest, extensive peat hags, and panoramic views toward Scafell Pike, Helvellyn and the Howgill Fells. The fell is part of classic Lakeland walking routes and figures in local conservation, archaeology and cultural accounts associated with the Cumbrian Mountains.
Overview
High Street stands within the civil parish of Strickland Roger and lies on the watershed between the Solway Firth and the Irish Sea catchments. The summit ridge carries the course of a dismantled Roman highway once linking the fort at Brougham near Penrith with the military presence around Ambleside and Kendal. As a Marilyn and a Hewitt, High Street attracts hillwalkers, fell-runners and naturalists from Keswick, Penrith and Windermere who access the fell from valleys including Mardale, Longsleddale and Howtown.
Topography and Geology
The fell forms an elongated plateau of Borrowdale Volcanic Group and Windermere Supergroup affinities with outcrops of volcaniclastic and sedimentary rocks that reflect Ordovician and Silurian histories recorded in the Lake District National Park geology. Glacial sculpting during the Last Glacial Period left corries, moraines and U-shaped valleys such as Mardale Green and the upper River Lowther basin; the ridge features peat bogs, tors and gritstone exposures. Drainage divides link to tributaries feeding Ullswater via Howtown Beck and the River Kent via Longsleddale, while the fell’s soils host montane heath and acid grassland typical of upland Cumbria.
Routes and Ascents
Popular ascents begin at Hartsop for eastern approaches, at the Mardale car park beside Haweswater for southern routes, and at Longsleddale for northern climbs. Walkers frequently follow the old Roman road route from Bampton/Bampton Grange or from Howtown over the summit ridge toward Shap and Kirkstone Pass, linking to summits such as Rampsgill Head and Kidsty Pike. The fell forms sections of long-distance routes including legs used by competitors in Borrowdale Fell Race-style challenges and features in guidebooks published by Alfred Wainwright and the Ordnance Survey walking series. Mountain rescue incidents on the fell are attended by teams from Cumbria Constabulary-associated volunteer brigades and the Penrith Mountain Rescue Team.
History and Etymology
The name reflects Old English and Norse influences common across Cumbria; medieval maps and charters reference the ridge as a "high street" or "great road", denoting its function as a transhumance track and Roman route connecting forts such as Brougham and sites near Ambleside (Galava). Archaeological surveys have identified remnants of Roman road engineering and cairns that link to wider Roman frontier logistics documented in studies of Hadrian's Wall supply networks. Later historical mentions appear in estate records held by families such as the Lowther family and in 19th-century topographical accounts by antiquaries associated with John Dalton-era geological enquiry.
Ecology and Conservation
High Street falls within designations administered by the Lake District National Park Authority and is subject to upland habitat conservation measures promoted by organisations like Natural England and local conservation charities including the Cumbria Wildlife Trust. Its heather moorland, blanket bog and acid grassland support species recorded in UK biodiversity action plans, including upland breeding birds that also occur on nearby fells such as Skiddaw and Blencathra. Peatland restoration projects and path repair initiatives funded by partnerships involving the Environment Agency and local landowners aim to reduce erosion, protect water quality for reservoirs such as Haweswater Reservoir, and sequester carbon in line with national environmental targets.
Recreation and Amenities
Amenities around High Street include car parks at Mardale and trailheads near Howtown with public footpaths managed under rights of way legislation overseen by Cumbria County Council. Accommodation and services for visitors are concentrated in nearby settlements including Patterdale, Shap, Kendal and Ambleside, where inns, hostels and outdoor outfitters serve walkers, climbers and cyclists. The fell is used for fell-running events, guided walks organised by The Fellwanderer-style enterprises and educational field trips connected to institutions such as University of Cumbria and regional outdoor centres.
Cultural References and Notable Events
High Street features in literary and pictorial traditions of the Lake District alongside places celebrated by writers and artists like William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and painters of the Romanticism movement who frequented Ullswater and Dove Cottage environs. The ridge has been a backdrop for regional festivals and commemorative walks, and its Roman road heritage figures in archaeological exhibitions at museums such as Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery. Notable historical events include military and surveying expeditions recorded by surveyors linked to the Ordnance Survey and 18th–19th century naturalists whose field notebooks contributed to county histories of Cumberland.