High Rigg [High Rigg South Top]

About High Rigg [High Rigg South Top]

Squeezed between the Vale of St John and the busy A591, this undulating heather ridge offers terrain that feels surprisingly rugged for its modest elevation. The South Top provides an exceptional vantage point for studying the steep western flanks of the Helvellyn range and the shimmering stretch of Thirlmere.

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Did You Know?

• •The name 'Rigg' is a direct descendant of the Old Norse 'hryggr', meaning a ridge or spine, which perfectly describes the fell's long, narrow profile between the Naddle and St John's valleys.
• •Walking the full length of the ridge involves a series of short, sharp climbs and descents that Bill Birkett, author of the 'Complete Lakeland Fells', noted for making the hill feel much larger than its 343-metre height.
• •From the South Top, the view north looks directly into the 'hidden' valley of the Vale of St John, with the massive, notched profile of Blencathra providing a dramatic backdrop.
• •The fell acts as a natural barrier of hard volcanic rock; it was once an 'island' in the massive glacier that carved out the deep troughs of Thirlmere and the surrounding valleys.
• •It is an ideal spot for those who want the visual drama of the high fells without the commitment, though the persistent hum of traffic from the valley floor serves as a constant reminder that lunch in Keswick is only a ten-minute descent away.