Lake District – Sept ’21

24th-26th September 2021-Lake District Trip Report.

We stayed at the Agnes Spencer Memorial Hut owned by Cleveland Mountain Club for the weekend. It was a really good hut and we had sole use due to Covid restrictions and so had plenty of room. It’s in a great location at Grisedale Bridge in Patterdale, near to Ullswater so there were plenty of walks to choose from starting from the hut.

Friday: Alan, Claire, Simon and Maggie travelled up on Thursday and did part of the Ullswater Way which is 20 miles around the Lake on Friday from Pooley Bridge back via the scenic Aira Force Falls to Patterdale.

Saturday:  Alan, Claire and Simon tackled Hellvelyn on Saturday, with the promise that the cloud would clear by mid-morning…a promise that was not delivered. After summiting via Hole in the Wall from Grisedale and an easy if slippery scramble up Swirral Edge, we stayed high continuing on to Raise and Stybarrow Dodd, with the hope that some views would materialise. This failed to happen until our descent through Glencoyne past the aptly named Seldom Seen, when Ullswater came into view once more. The walk back along the lake and a Kendal mint cake ice cream in Glenridding made a pleasant conclusion to the day.

Dan and Maisie left the hut & went up onto Birks, then over to Gavel Pike & St Sunday Crag over Cofa Pike to Fairfield. Then onto Hart Crag, returning to Patterdale over Hartsop above How & Gale Crag.   Poor visibility above 700m & lots of other folk lost on the flat top of Fairfield!

Due to a knee problem Maggie went off her own for a lower level walk around Place Fell, planning to walk back along the lake. However after about 4 miles her knee gave way which meant she couldn’t continue, even with poles. Luckily she had just reached a small hamlet, but there was no phone signal. After knocking at a couple of doors she found a kind lady who phoned for a taxi. It turned out to be an expensive weekend as it cost £50.00 although it was only a 3 mile walk along the lake!

In the evening we had another great meal cooked by Chef Dan, Tiroler Grostl, which had bacon, onions and boiled potatoes all fried together with herbs. Simon also made a delicious apple crumble from apples from his garden. All enjoyed around the fire with a few drinks!

Sunday: Alan and Claire completed the Ullswater Way and met Maggie who had got the bus into Pooley Bridge. They then had a leisurely ferry ride back to Patterdale. Simon started off with them and then headed over Place Fell and back to the hut.

Dan and Maisie went to Keswick (Maisie was expecting it to be like Clovelly) & after a great lunch in a Tapas restaurant we headed back – Maisie didn’t want to be back too late as it was school Monday!  Yet another great weekend in the Lakes!

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