High Street
High Street at 828 metres carries the name of a Roman road — the highest road in England used by the Romans — and the summit plateau is broad enough to have hosted horse races as late as the 19th century. The actual High Street, the Roman road, passes slightly east of the summit across a wide grassy ridge. The plateau is exposed grassland, very different from the volcanic rock of the central fells. The views east are remarkable — the Eden Valley stretches toward Cross Fell and the Pennines, and on a clear day the Yorkshire Dales are visible. The western view takes in the Helvellyn range and, further back, the Scafell group. North, the far eastern fells spread into a series of ridges and valleys that are among the least-visited in the national park. Small Water and Blea Water, two of the finest corrie tarns in the Lakes, sit on the east and west flanks respectively. Blea Water is one of the deepest tarns in the Lake District at around 63 metres. The descent via Blea Water and Long Stile is one of the most rewarding ways off the fell.
Walking
The Patterdale approach (CA11 0PD) climbs via Boredale Hause and the Angle Tarn path before gaining the ridge at Satura Crag and following the broad plateau north to the summit. This is around 10 miles return with 900 metres of ascent. Allow 6 to 7 hours. The approach through the valley to Angle Tarn is particularly fine in its own right. The Hartsop approach via Hayeswater and the High Street ridge is more direct and slightly shorter. Park at Hartsop village (CA11 0NZ, small car park) and climb via Hayeswater and High Raise to gain the main ridge. The tarn basin below Gray Crag is excellent. This route is around 8 miles with 800 metres of ascent. A high-level traverse from Troutbeck via the Garburn Pass and Yoke, Ill Bell, and Froswick to reach High Street from the south is the Kentmere Horseshoe extension. The full horseshoe is around 12 miles and is one of the great circuit walks in the eastern Lakes.
Routes
Patterdale via Angle Tarn
Patterdale village car park
Tips
The far eastern fells are significantly quieter than the central Lakes. You can have High Street entirely to yourself on a weekday in September. Blea Water and Hayeswater are both worth the detour on the way up or down. The White Lion at Patterdale (CA11 0NW) is the right pub for this part of the Lakes.