Go Your Own Way

Posted bynickletjogPosted inPreparation

C2C – Day 5: Wednesday 6 April – GRASMERE to PATTERDALE (9 miles)

And then there were three (plus Maud of course) – setting off from Grasmere

We have said our goodbyes now to our Lakeland companions Tim, Wendy and Maud. Last night, after dinner, we parted company with Tim, bound this morning for home and back to work. Then this afternoon, on reaching Patterdale, Wendy and Maud hopped aboard their bus. Thank you Tim and Wendy, Maud too, for your super company over recent days – it has been a real pleasure walking with you and enjoying some memorable evenings as well. Safe travels, and see you soon!

Our thanks to Maud for showing us the way – her eight dog years put her at roughly the same stage of life as the rest of us, yet her little legs covered at least twice the distance that we managed!

We all had a wonderful walk today, a half-day really, as we picnicked well down on the descent of Patterdale and reached our destination by early afternoon. Our path out of Grasmere and up Tongue Gill was well-made and significantly less steep than yesterday morning’s climb, making for a pleasant ascent up to Grisedale Hause.

Beginning the climb up Tongue Gill . . .
. . . and nearing the col at Grisedale Hause – at around 600 metres above sea level our high point today equated to those of our last two days over the passes at Honister and Greenup Edge
A lovely action photo – thank you Wendy!

From the top of the col we started down, initially past the slate-grey waters of Grisedale Tarn, and then over the glacial lip down into the head of Grisedale itself, before a long but routine descent into Patterdale village.

Over the top and past Grisedale Tarn
Making our way down into Grisedale
Waterfalls above our path
Maud checking out Ruthwaite Lodge, an outward-bound cabin at the head of the dale
Looking back up Grisedale, towards the Helvellyn range

The weather too has been kind to us today, somewhat better than forecast, with some early showers of rain and hail blowing swiftly through. For the rest of the day intermittent light rain showers obliged us to retain our waterproofs but we avoided a proper soaking. It is said that at this time of year in the Lakes one can have four seasons in one day, and with some brief sun in Patterdale we came close to this experience.

A reminder of our longer walk to Shap tomorrow!

Rob and I took a taxi tonight up to Glenridding for dinner, and bumped into a group of fellow C2C walkers who we have crossed paths with every day, both on the trail and in various B&Bs and bars. Back at the Old Water View guesthouse*, where we are all staying, four of us ended up with a single malt in hand by the fire – a lovely end to another super day on trek!

Myself, Steve, Rob and David – now over 50 miles into the C2C!

* Apparently our room in the Old Water View, was the room favoured by Alfred Wainwright himself, when he was staying and writing in this part of the Lakes. The guesthouse, so we are told, is also a favourite of Julia Bradbury.

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