Day 4

Grasmere to Patterdale

Another fairly easy day walking from Grasmere to Patterdale. A distance of 8.52 miles on the GPS. We had planned to climb St. Sunday Crag but the wind was blowing very strong so I took the decision to stay away from any mountain tops. It was quite a cold day despite the unbroken sunshine due to the ferocity of the wind. Its strength seems to be diminishing now.


We both had a good night's sleep (with me on the top bunk) at the very comfortable (4*) Youth Hostel. How things have changed since the 60s. We checked out around 0830 and stopped at the local co-op to get food for the journey. The climb alonside Tongue Beck was fairly straightforward. We were overtaken by a frenchman and we caught up with our two german friends on the way up. The wind was relentless and it took us a while to find a nice sheltered spot for coffee, near the top of the valley, at Grisedale Hause.

The wind across the tarn was creating little wavelets and it was here that I decided to abandon the walk over St. Sunday Crag. The walk down Grisedale was uneventful but quite busy with several people going the other way.

The diversion through Glaramara Park was well worth it with blossom on the trees and bluebells in the woods.

We arrived in Patterdale at around 2pm, far too early for our B&B. So we had a beer in the Patterdale Hotel followed by tea and cake in Glenridding to while away a couple of hours.

In the evening, the Patterdale Hotel was full of bikers who had driven up on their luxury Honda motorcycles. Liz counted at least 30 in the car park. The main meal was good and the pudding was excellent.

Our B&B is a little tired but clean and comfortable. It is run by an old lady who isn't in the best of health.

Tomorrow is a rest day. We plan to visit Penrith on the bus.

Distance walked today 8.52 miles. Total distance walked so far 46.16 miles.