Patterdale.

Patterdale (Saint Patrick’s Dale) is a small village in the eastern part of the English Lake District in the Eden District of Cumbria.

The poet William Wordsworth lived in his youth near Patterdale and his autobiographical poem The Prelude narrates in Book 1 such childhood activities as fishing in the lake from a stolen boat. The village is now the start point for a number of popular hill-walks, most notably the Striding Edge path up to Helvellyn. Other fells that can be reached from the valley include Place Fell, High Street and Glenridding Dodd.  Most of the peaks in the Helvellyn range, Fairfield, St Sunday Crag, and Red Screes are at the very end of the valley, standing either side of the Kirkstone Pass which is the road to Ambleside.

Patterdale to Grisedale Tarn (4.5 miles)

After parking the car behind Patterdale Hotel (on the eastern side of the road).  NOTE parking charges are in place.  If you do not have change, you can pay at the reception of the Patterdale Hotel.

Leaving the car park, heading north, we turn left just before the bridge over the Grisedale Beck, heading up the lane.  Passing the farm buildings at the top of the lane we head south (Video 1:40) and cross the burn.  Starting to climb, heading towards Thornhow Edge.  From here on, the path is well defined, as we head towards the Birks (622 mtrs) and onto the summit of St Sunday Crag (841 mtrs) (Video 4:10).  Along this path we have a great view across Grisedale Valley towards Hole in the Wall, Bleaberry Crags and on towards Striding Edge (which can be an option for your return).

Dropping down from St Sunday Crag, Grisedale Tarn comes into view (Video 4:45).  Taking a path and traversing across the fell side, eventually coming to the bridge/stepping stones at the start of Grisedale Beck, with Grisedale Tarn on our left.  This is a great backdrop for a break and some lunch.  This gives us some time to reflect on our walk to this point.

Grisedale Tarn to Helvellyn (2.5 miles)

Sadly we need to leave the Tarn and continue on our way.  Heading around the northern bank of Grisedale Tarn, we pick up the path heading north and continue towards Dollywaggon Pike (Video 5:50).  There are many opportunities to take some time and marvel at the views, time well spent (Video 6:20).

The walk across well-trodden paths leads us past High Crag, Nethermost Pike and on to Helvellyn.  The top can be busy and the trig point (Video 7:40).  You now have some options to consider for the return route, these being Striding Edge, Swirral Edge or the longer route taking in Whiteside Bank and Glenridding Common.

Helvellyn to Patterdale (5.5 miles).

The following describes the last route, taking in Glenridding Common, which we can see meandering across the fells.

Leaving Helvellyn summit, heading NNW towards Lower Man, we start our decent on a gentle incline.  Continuing on the path we have a couple of descents as well as ascents until we get to Whiteside Bank.  Now heading east the descent starts in earnest.  The path is generally kind on the knees and is good underfoot.  As we continue our descent we pass a dam across the valley, where the Glenridding Beck meanders through the valley on our right.

As we approach the weir we need to take the footbridge over the Beck and continue along the path on the Southern side (Video 11:20).  The path itself will now lead you to Glenridding, where there are many facilities available.

We follow the path along the road back to Patterdale and the conclusion of our walk.

This is a long walk in the hills which is very rewarding.  It is not the classic route to Helvellyn, but the views are stunning, and spending time at Grisedale Tarn is a real delight.

Glenridding.

Glenridding is a village at the southern end of Ullswater, in the English Lake District. The village is popular with mountain walkers who can scale England’s third-highest mountain, Helvellyn, and many other challenging peaks from there.

The village has accommodation including two youth hostels and camping sites. Glenridding House provides luxury bed and breakfast accommodation. There is also a tourist information centre.