High Stile is the largest of three mountains that overlook the village andlake of Buttermere in Wainwright's western fells, forming a ridge of high ground between Buttermere and Ennerdale. Either side of High Stile are two other Wainwright Fells, Red Pike and High Crag, which are usually walked as atrio to be completed off on your Wainwright Maps. If feeling particularly energetic, Alfred Wainwright's favourite fell, Haystacks can be added to the route.
From the summit of High Stile, the best views perhaps come of the Northwestern fells, with more rewards from the Wainwright Walk coming from apanorama that includes Crummock Water and Buttermere. Because the sides of HighStile are particularly steep, most Wainwright walkers will begin at Buttermere and pass Scale Force, getting to High Stile via Red Pike, with views of the Scafells en route. From High Stile, pushing on to High Crag is the best option before the steep descent back down to Buttermere.
In his guides, Wainwright wrote of the path along the ridge of these three peaks - 'the view becomes truly aerial, with an uninterrupted picture in depth from the zenith of the sky to the rock on which one stands'. Gazing from the summit of High Stile across the northwestern fells, Pillar and Scafell Pike - and all the way up to the Solway and the mountains of Dumfries and Galloway, it is very difficult not to agree with this assessment of a stunning Wainwright Walk.
High Stile, together with Red Pike and High Crag, are discussed in more detail in Book Seven: The Western Fells, by A. Wainwright, part of the Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells.
The Wainwright Walk to High Stile under a blue sky is a stunning experience - Picture by Stewart Smith Photography
Plan and record your progress through the Wainwright Fells of the Lake District