Start point: Patterdale (NY 394 160)
Patterdale – Hole-in-the-Wall – Striding Edge – Helvellyn – Nethermost Pike – High Crag – Dollywaggon Pike – Seat Sandal – Deepdale Hause – Saint Sunday Crag – Birks – Patterdale
Distance: 11 miles Total Ascent: 1419 metres Time Taken: 6 hours Start Time: 06:45
Weather: Sunny and clear. 13C
I was up early this morning to make the most of the expected good weather to come for the day. I wasn’t disappointed and it turned into a fantastic and memorable day on the fells with incredible clarity and an inversion over the Lake District as well. When I set off from Patterdale this morning (in the dark!), the temperature gauge was showing -1C but once the sun rose it was really warm and I ended up completing the walk in shirt sleeves.
Grisedale route map.
It was below freezing when I left Patterdale and pretty chilly climbing to the Hole-in-the-Wall, here looking back towards Patterdale with Ullswater under the early morning mist.
It was below freezing when I left Patterdale and pretty chilly climbing to the Hole-in-the-Wall, here looking back towards Patterdale with Ullswater under the early morning mist.
Sun rising but not visible here yet. That mist is following me up the valley below.
The sun rising over High Street.
All a-glow heading for the Hole-in-the-Wall.
Beautiful sunrise and the inversion has flooded into Grisedale.
Climbing the steep section of the path.
Looking to Birkhouse Moor from the Hole. All the low lying ground to the east is covered with mist.
Helvellyn and Catstycam at dawn.
A panoramic view.
Looking back from the climb to High Spying How.
Even the normally dull as ditchwater Great Mell Fell looks good today, taking on a special interest in the inversion.
The Mell Fells and Gowbarrow Fell rise from the mist, Sheffield Pike in the foreground.
The mighty Striding Edge.
Flat calm Red Tarn.
The view from High Spying How.
Crossing The Edge.
Red Tarn and Catstycam.
Panoramic Red Tarn.
Looking down on Striding Edge.
There is a big inversion to the south too looking over the cross shelter. In fact the whole Lake District is surrounded by the inversion.
The view from the summit of Helvellyn.
Dougal and Casper on the summit.
The 'Isle of Skiddaw', the Vale of Keswick is beneath the cloud somewhere.
A panoramic view of the Vale of Keswick.
Swirral Edge and Catstycam, the Pennines beyond Ullswater.
Cross Fell beyond Ullswater.
Looking into the bright sunshine from Helvellyn.
Looking to the south west from the path to Nethermost Pike. That distant fell (Black Combe), in solitary peeping out in the clouds intrigued me - I wonder what it would be like to be stood on the top of it? Actually, I have had a similar experience on Hard Knott with Connie (here) and you never know whether you will actually ever get above the cloud.
All clear over Bowfell, Scafell and Great Gable.
Striding Edge.
Misty Grisedale.
The view from Nethermost Pike.
Casper takes it easy heading for Dollywaggon Pike.
The Solway Firth is also under inversion between Robinson and Grasmoor to the north.
Dollywaggon Pike from the steep climb to Seat Sandal.
Thirlmere under cloud and Skiddaw from Seat Sandal.
The Vale of Grasmere.
Thirlmere
Saint Sunday Crag and Fairfield from the descent of Seat Sandal.
Seat Sandal from the start of the climb to Fairfield.
I took the path to Deepdale Hause which turned out to be a good one to get to Saint Sunday, well worth a go. It was cold along here though in the shade looking down on Grisedale Tarn.
Seat Sandal and Grisedale Tarn.
Fairfield and Cofa Pike from Deepdale Hause.
Dollywaggon Pike across Grisedale.
Looking west from the climb to Saint Sunday Crag.
The Helvellyn ridge.
The summit of Saint Sunday Crag.
Heading for Birks below, Place Fell beyond.
Dougal and Casper on Birks.
Looking back to Saint Sunday from Birks.
On the edge of heaven?
Ullswater panoramic.
Place Fell.