C2C – Day 5: Wednesday 6 April – GRASMERE to PATTERDALE (9 miles)
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 work. Then this afternoon, on reaching Patterdale, Wendy and Maud hopped aboard their bus. Thank you Tim and Wendy for your super company over recent days – it has been a real pleasure walking with you and enjoying some memorable evenings too. Safe travels, and see you soon!
The three of us had a wonderful walk today, a half-day really, as we picnicked well down on the descent of Patterdale, and we 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. At 600 metres, our high point today was similar to the cols of the last two days over Honister and Greenup Edge.
From the top we started down, initially past the slate-grey waters of Grisedale Tarn, then over the glacial lip and down into the head of Grisedale itself, before a long but routine descent to Patterdale village.
The weather too was 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.
We took a taxi tonight up to Glenridding for dinner, and bumped into a group of fellow C2C-ers 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!
* 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.
Walking for Challenge and for Charity 