NB: Whether you print off a copy on to paper or download it to your phone, these PDF Peak Baggers Maps will prove incredibly useful when your are up there on the tops and you cannot get a phone signal!
You can walk to the top of Hay Stacks (Haystacks) by using any of these 8 easy‑to‑follow route maps:
Walk c406 Hay Stacks from Gatesgarth, Buttermere
Wainwright's favourite mountain
Vital Statistics:
Length:
3.25ml(6km)
Ascent:
1,920ft(585m)
Time:
3½ hrs
Grade:
(Moderate)
Walk c295 Hay Stacks and Fleetwith Pike from Gatesgarth, Buttermere
Wainwright's favourite mountain
Vital Statistics:
Length:
5.80ml(8.5km)
Ascent:
2,455ft(748m)
Time:
4½ hrs
Grade:
(Moderate)
Walk c456 Fleetwith Pike, Hay Stacks, Brandreth and Grey Knotts from Honister Hause
Lots of ups and downs to stunning views
Vital Statistics:
Length:
6.25mls(10km)
Ascent:
2,756ft(840m)
Time:
5.25hrs
Grade:
(Moderate)
Walk c228 Hay Stacks from Buttermere
Wainwright's favourite mountain
Vital Statistics:
Length:
8.25ml(13km)
Ascent:
2,334ft(711m)
Time:
5½ hrs
Grade:
(Moderate)
Walk c151 Great Gable, Kirk Fell and Hay Stacks from Honister Hause
Good paths on rough ground
Vital Statistics:
Length:
8.5ml(13.5km)
Ascent:
4,260ft(1,298m)
Time:
7.25hrs
Grade:
(Hard)
Walk c287 The High Stile Ridge and Hay Stacks from Buttermere
Unsurpassed views of Buttermere and Wainwright's favourite
Vital Statistics:
Length:
11.25ml(18km)
Ascent:
4,132ft(1,259m)
Time:
8.25hrs
Grade:
(Hard)
Walk c397 The Buttermere Fells from Buttermere
Very long high level route with superb views
Vital Statistics:
Length:
16ml(25.5km)
Ascent:
6,285ft(1,915m)
Time:
12.25hrs
Grade:
(Very Hard)
Walk c120 The Ennerdale Horseshoe
Strenuous, high level route worth every step - if you have the energy!
Vital Statistics:
Length:
18.75ml(30km)
Ascent:
7,309ft(2,408m)
Time:
14.75hrs
Grade:
(Very Hard)
Fellow go4awalkers who have already walked, climbed, summited & bagged Hay Stacks (Haystacks)
Richard Fulcher walked up Hay Stacks (Haystacks) on March 11th, 2024 [from/via/route] We parked at Gatesgarth Farm near Buttermere (£4) & set off towards Peggy's Bridge. The ascent starts at the triangle of trees & steadily climbs to Scarth Gap. At this junction of paths we turned left & climbed (hands required) up to the summit(s) of Haystacks. From the top we descended to Innominate Tarn & then to Blackbeck Tarn. We then followed the path towards Dubs Quarry turning left & down just after crossing Warnscale Beck. We then picked our way down the boulder strewn path back to the car. [with] Jen [weather] Cloudy, very little wind .. felt warmer than it should have! Cloud was just above Haystacks.
Sarah Moore climbed Hay Stacks (Haystacks) on April 9th, 2023 [from/via/route] My own invention! Wanting not to drive from YHA Ennerdale & to make the most of the High Stile ridge [with] On my own [weather] Not so sunny - good... very windy at times - tough (lots of people coming off the tops / turning back, but glad I didn't) - Loved this - an 8 hour walk really started to test me lengthwise & absolutely adored the lack of people on what I thought would be a crazy busy Easter Sunday. One to remember...
Emma Simmonds bagged Hay Stacks (Haystacks) during August, 2019 [from/via/route] Peggy's Bridge [with] Kevin, Sam, Belle and the Martin girls. [weather] Dry, low cloud at the top.
Tina Parker hiked Hay Stacks (Haystacks) on November 19th, 2022 [from/via/route] Buttermere [with] Susan - We stayed at the yh.
Paul Macey summited Hay Stacks (Haystacks) on June 6th, 2022 [from/via/route] C295 [with] Luke [weather] High Level cloud
Jeremy Torrance conquered Hay Stacks (Haystacks) on October 8th, 2021 [from/via/route] Buttermere [with] Jon Stu [weather] Good autumn
Ian Cox scaled Hay Stacks (Haystacks) on July 9th, 2021 [from/via/route] Gatesgarth [with] Nicola Cox [weather] Bright but cloudy, with some low cloud, but stayed just above us
Michael Austin walked up Hay Stacks (Haystacks) on October 15th, 2020 [from/via/route] C295
Mark Hazelton climbed Hay Stacks (Haystacks) on June 15th, 2020 [from/via/route] Gatesgarth Farm via Peggy's Bridge, scrath Gap pass & back via Warnscale Bottom [with] Family and Pepper [weather] Sunny
Catherine Hill bagged Hay Stacks (Haystacks) on April 20th, 2019 [from/via/route] Route tbc but set out up the hill from Sykes farm cafe in Buttermere [with] Karen and Hazel [weather] Dry,sunny, hot - Quote busy, it was Easter. Delicious afternoon tea at Sykes farm cafe as a reward 😄
The flank of Hay Stacks (Haystacks), High Crag and High Stile (left), Mellbreak, Buttermere and Crummock Water (centre) with Grasmoor and High Snockrigg (right) from Fleetwith Pike
Pillar (left), Ennerdale Water, Seat (Buttermere), Gamlin End and High Crag (centre), Crummock Water and Grasmoor (right) from the summit of Hay Stacks (Haystacks)
Seat (Buttermere), Gamlin End, High Crag (Buttermere), Mellbreak, Crummock Water, Buttermere Village, Rannerdale Knotts and the shoulder of Grasmoor from the summit of Hay Stacks (Haystacks)
The view north from Looking Stead (Pillar) featuring Ennerdale with Red Pike (Buttermere), High Stile, High Crag, Seat, Scarth Gap, Hay Stacks (Haystacks) and Brandreth (far right)
Our new addition Neela ( 1st time in the Lakes) on Hay Stacks (Haystacks) with Green Gable (left), Windy Gap, Great Gable and Kirk Fell (right) very clear in the background
Send us your photographs and pictures on, of, or from Hay Stacks (Haystacks)
If you would like to add your walk photographs and pictures featuring views from, on or of Hay Stacks (Haystacks) to this page, please send them as email attachments (configured for any computer) along with your name to:
and we shall do our best to publish them.
(Guide Resolution = 300dpi. At least = 660pixels (wide) x 440 pixels (high).)