- High Rigg
Infobox Mountain
Name = High Rigg
Photo = HighRigg.jpg
Caption = High Rigg seen from the slopes ofLow Rigg ; the building in the trees is the church.
Elevation = 357 m (1,171 ft)
Location =Cumbria , ENG
Range =Lake District ,Central Fells
Prominence = "c." 189 m
Parent peak = High Raise
Coordinates =
Topographic
OS "Explorer" OL5
Grid_ref_UK = NY308220
Listing = Marilyn, Hewitt, WainwrightHigh Rigg is a small
fell located in the EnglishLake District , approximately three miles southeast of the town of Keswick. It occupies an unusual position, surrounded on all sides by higher fells but not connected by any obviousridge . This separation from its fellows ensures that it is a Marilyn.Topography
High Rigg is strictly the continuation of the ridge running up the western shore of
Thirlmere , whose high point isRaven Crag . This forms the watershed between the Shoulthwaite and Thirlmere/ Vale of St John systems. The depression between High Rigg and Raven Crag to the south — at only around convert|550|ft|m|abbr=on — is at Smaithwaite, just south of the A591 Keswick toAmbleside road.High Rigg resembles a model of the Lakeland Fells in miniature, complete with crags, intermediate tops, tarns and even a 'pass' crossing the ridge halfway along, complete with church. The northern and southern aspects of the fell are largely grassed and gently rolling, in contrast to the western and eastern flanks which are steep with numerous rocky outcroppings and cliffs.
Travelling south to north the main features are Wren Crag (1,020 ft), overlooking the Vale of St John, Yew Crag (1,000 ft) facing west and then two tops at convert|1125|ft|m|abbr=on and convert|1171|ft|m|abbr=on respectively. The ridge then falls to the 'pass' and St John's church, before rising again to
Low Rigg (836 ft). Finally comes Tewet Tarn as the ridge falls away to the river Greta. Also known as Tewfit Tarn, this shallow pool stands on a shelf, overlooked by higher rocks. Don Blair: "Exploring Lakeland Tarns": Lakeland Manor Press (2003): ISBN 0-9543-9041-5] Birkett, Bill: "Complete Lakeland Fells": Collins Willow (1994): ISBN 0-0021-8406-0]Geology
The geology of the ridge is complex with much small scale faulting. Gravel and
scree overlay much of the fell which lies between two branches of the Coniston Fault, with theplagioclase -phyricandesite lavas of the Birker Fell Formation beneath. Low Rigg exhibits intrusions of microgranite to the surface.British Geological Survey: 1:50,000 series maps, "England & Wales Sheet 29": BGS (1999)]ummit and view
The summit has a
cairn set on an outcrop and commands a fineview of the surrounding fells. The giants ofSkiddaw andBlencathra dominate the view to the north, andClough Head and theHelvellyn range the view east. Thirlmere is visible to the south andBleaberry Fell to the west, over which the Scafell group can be seen on a clear day.cite book |author=Wainwright, A |title= A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, Book 3 The Central Fells |publisher= Westmorland Gazette |year= 1958] Mark Richards: "The Central Fells": Collins (2003): ISBN 0-00-711365-X]Ascents
The hill may be climbed in a short twenty-minute
walk from the "Church ofSt John's in the Vale ". It only involves about 120 m (400 ft) of climb and is one of the shortest ascents in the Lakes. Alternatively, a traverse of the fell's three mile (5 km) long ridge may be made, starting at Tewit Tarn and finishing nearShoulthwaite .Name
The word "Rigg" is from the
Old English language and means a bumpy fell or ridge.References
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