“Striding Edge is the finest ridge there is in Lakeland, for walkers - it's traverse is always an exhilarating adventure in fair weather or foul, and it can be made easy or difficult according to choice”
A Wainwright
The village of Patterdale is perfectly situated at the foot of Ullswater, surrounded on all other sides by high ground, the land to the east is topped by the grassy summit of High Street while to the west the fells climb over steep rough ground to the wonderful summits of Helvellyn & Fairfield.
Over the weekend we will climb two of the finest and most contrasting routes that the area has to offer, on Saturday we will climb High Street via Angle Tarn whilst on Sunday we will climb Helvellyn via the wonderful Striding Edge ridge.
“Any person so favoured may recline on the turf and witness, in his minds eye, a varied pageant of history”
A Wainwright
High Street
From Patterdale we will climb the track to Boredale Hause, the pass between Patterdale and Martindale where a good path will climb up alongside the Angletarn Pikes and Angle Tarn, several great smaller peaks can be climbed from this path including Brock Crags and Rest Dodd. The path climbs by The Knott to reach the old Roman Road along the summit ridge of High Street, we will follow the ridge to the summit of High Street, with wonderful views over Patterdale to the west and Riggindale and Haweswater to the East before continuing to the summit of Thornthwaite Crag.
A good ridge now descends north from Thornthwaite Crag over Gray Crag to the village of Hartsop. From here we will follow the track back along the valley to Patterdale.
Helvellyn & Striding Edge
One of the most spectacular walking routes in the Lake District, although not the longest it does involve a little exposure along the Striding Edge ridge.
From Glenridding we will climb the good paths to Lanty's Tarn where we will follow the ridge onto Birkhouse Moor with wonderful views of the crags along Striding Edge and Helvellyn and down in the opposite direction over Ullswater to the Eden Valley.
The route now follows the ridge climbing onto Striding Edge where we will follow the sharp ridge until the final steep climb to the summit of Helvellyn.
From the summit we will descend over Swirral Edge to the summit of Catstycam where we will again have great views down to Ullswater and back across Red Tarn to Striding Edge.
A grassy descent from Catstycam will bring us down onto the main path to the old Greenside Mines and on to Glenridding.
The weekend will be based in the villages of Patterdale and Glenridding, there is plenty of good accommodation available in both villages including two good Youth Hostels.
Each participant will be required to bring suitable equipment for their chosen event, please see Kit List tab above.
Saturday:
Where to meet: Outside the Patterdale Hotel, Patterdale
Postcode: CA11 0NL
Grid Reference: NY 397 158
Directions
From the South Lakes: From the A591 between Ambleside and Windermere turn onto the A592. Follow this road over the Kirkstone Pass descending to Brothers Water. After the road passes a turning to the right, continue past Brothers Water to the village of Patterdale where the Patterdale Hotel will be seen to the left, we will meet outside the Hotel entrance, a pay and display car park is opposite the hotel.
From the North Lakes: From the A66 between Keswick and Penrith turn off onto the A592, near the Rheged Centre, signposted to Ullswater, follow this road south along the shore of Ullswater past the villages of Glenridding to Patterdale. The Patterdale Hotel will be seen on the right hand side, we will meet outside the Hotel entrance, a pay and display car park is opposite the hotel.
Sunday:
Where to meet: Outside Glenridding TIC
Postcode: CA11 0PA
Grid Reference: NY 386 169
Directions
From the South Lakes: From the A591 between Ambleside and Windermere turn onto the A592. Follow this road over the Kirkstone Pass descending to Brothers Water. Continue on this road to the village of Glenridding. A car park will be found to the left in the centre of the village, park here (pay and display) we will meet outside the Tourist Information Centre on the car park.
From the North Lakes: From the A66 between Keswick and Penrith turn off onto the A592, near the Rheged Centre, signposted to Ullswater, follow this road south along the shore of Ullswater to the village of Glenridding. A car park will be seen on the right (pay and display), just after the garage, we will meet outside the Tourist Information Centre in the car park.
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