Hay Stacks wearing its winter coat
Hay Stacks
Hay Stacks stands as one of the most beloved and visually complex summits in the entire Lake District. Located at the southeastern head of the Buttermere Valley, it serves as the vital link between the massifs of the Western Fells and the high ground of the Great Gable group. Despite its modest height relative to its neighbours, it offers a dense, intricate landscape that feels like a micro-mountain range unto itself.
The fell's name originates from the visual impression of its summit cliffs—though Alfred Wainwright famously argued that the name is a corruption of the Icelandic 'stack', meaning 'a columnar rock', implying the correct translation should be 'High Rocks'. Beyond the nomenclature, it is cemented in Lakeland lore as the final resting place of Alfred Wainwright himself, whose ashes were scattered at the serene, island-dotted Innominate Tarn on the fell's summit plateau.
The summit cairn looking toward Great Gable
The summit is a short, jagged rocky ridge topped with cairns at both ends, with the northern cairn marking the official high point. Exploring the top is a constant delight of discovery, featuring hidden marshlands, secret rock shelters, and a series of tarns. It provides an essential bridge between the Ennerdale and Buttermere valleys, framing the towering, austere presence of Great Gable to the southeast.
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