Great Rigg

Great Rigg is a fell in the English Lake District, 7 kilometres north-west of Ambleside. It reaches 766 metres and forms part of the Fairfield horseshoe, a 16-kilometre circular walk starting and finishing in Ambleside. The name comes from the Old English word ‘rigg’, meaning a bumpy or knobbly ridge. From the south-west near Grasmere the summit appears to dominate the valley. The fell has 31 metres of prominence, just enough to qualify as a Hewitt. Great Rigg is climbed as part of the Fairfield horseshoe, though a direct route runs from Grasmere up the south-west ridge passing Stone Arthur. The fell’s eastern side is rocky, dropping to Rydal Beck, while the western flank is mostly grassy towards Tongue Gill. To the north Fairfield lies 1.5 kilometres away and to the south Heron Pike is 2.5 kilometres distant. A third ridge runs south-west towards Grasmere with Stone Arthur on its shoulder. The summit is marked by a large cairn named Greatrigg Man on maps. From the top ten sizeable lakes and tarns are visible across the Lakeland mountains. The summit area consists of volcaniclastic sandstone, while beneath lies dacitic lapilli tuff. The outlook includes views of the distinctive lakes and tarns that characterise the region.