Haystacks: the summit that makes it all worthwhile

Ramble Worldwide walk leader Tom gains elevation and elation in his final endeavour

Ascending Haystacks in the afternoon after the ascent of Red Pike and a long, hard walk along High Stile Ridge. It is not a significantly high fell, less than 600m, but it is steep in places, requiring some scrambling and there are plenty of false crests which may sap the morale and get tired limbs protesting.

However, when you reach the summit and see that view out to the Solway Firth it's definitely been worth all the effort. The best, in our opinion, is the view from Haystacks looking North West. In it you get to see Buttermere, Crummock Water and out to the Solway Firth. The lakes are flanked by the High Stile Ridge fells and Mellbreak to the left and Robinson and Rannerdale Knotts to the right. Grasmoor and Grisedale Pike looming further out to the right. This view distils everything we love about the Lake District into one single panorama.

We get the same reaction from the clients. This is the moment we feel we're truly rambling worldwide, especially when you get the same reaction from the clients. Not just the view, but the gratification of what they've achieved and the manner in which they've achieved it.

By the end, they were very gratified with what they had achieved and the manner in which they had achieved it. They've discovered something about the fells and something about themselves. The format works: short, intense, achievable but genuinely challenging.

Back at Hassness House for the final evening, the conversation is already turning to future adventures. That's when we know we've pitched it right. Challenging? Absolutely. Demanding? Without question. But still a holiday, still achievable. That's the balance of a proper fell walking weekend. That's Guide Pace in action.