High Rigg - Top o' the First Rise Traditional Geocache
High Rigg - Top o' the First Rise
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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Thirlmere to Castlerigg - Cache 1
(One of?) the best short walks in the Lakes is the ridge of High Rigg returning along the bridleway above St John’s Beck. It can be extended to the Castlerigg Stone Circle and (parking cars at both ends) we did this with my 3 year old grand-daughter last year, so it’s quite doable by young and old.
When I discovered there were geocaches up there I thought why not lay a trail so this is it. You can do as we did – or return from the circle using one of several footpaths, or use the bus (free at my age!) – or after visiting Low Rigg return to the church and take the bridleway / footpath just a short way down the road back to the start. Totally delightful.
The start is just north of the junction of the main Keswick Road with the minor road round the back of Thirlmere. There are bus stops either side plus a little off-road parking. There’s a big car park (Legburthwaite, St Johns in the Vale) at the end of the tiny road opposite.
Now here’s my gripe about the Ordnance Survey. No footpaths are shown over High Rigg but there’s one major one and several minor. The OS persists in highlighting Rights of Way (many of which don’t exist on the ground - particularly in The Lakes) - and it can be dangerous in mist or the dark, if you think you’re on it whereas you’re actually on an unmarked but huge footpath.
Enough proselytising here’s the route:
Thirlmere to Castlerigg 1 - High Rigg – Top o’ the First Rise
Thirlmere to Castlerigg 2 - High Rigg – In the Little Dip
Thirlmere to Castlerigg 2a - High Rigg – Long Band
Thirlmere to Castlerigg 2b - High Rigg (laid by the Golem)
Thirlmere to Castlerigg 3 - High Rigg - Moss Crag
Thirlmere to Castlerigg 4 - High Rigg Summit (laid by CharliegOpzo)
Thirlmere to Castlerigg 5 - Williams Beck Top
Thirlmere to Castlerigg 6a - Low Rigg
Thirlmere to Castlerigg 6b - Low Rigg Summit
Thirlmere to Castlerigg 7 - Tewet Tarn (laid by the Smileys)
Thirlmere to Castlerigg 8 - Castlerigg Stone Circle (laid by the Golem)
and ON THE ROUTE BACK
Thirlmere to Castlerigg 9 - Golden Tree (laid by Popjosh)
Thirlmere to Castlerigg 10 - High Rigg – Last (or First?) Tree
Thirlmere to Castlerigg 11 - High Rigg – Big Rock
Top o’ the First Rise
Over the stile and into the woods and just a little way on there’s the choice up and left which you take – and straight on which is the way back.
Then you’re out of the trees and your gps is working and you’re at the first top – but of course it isn’t because there’s always another rise just ahead isn’t there? But there’s some rocks – a quick find – and continue on the big path to number two. WARNING - A BIG ROCK in the centre of the outcrop is VERY LOOSE and ready to fall
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Va n yvggyr pyrsg ba rkgerzr yrsg tbvat hc pbirerq jvgu fgbarf