~Sykeside to Glenridding~
11th August 2022
Rooking nr.Patterdale
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Yet another scorcher! Molly n' me had an early walk up the miners' path to the higher Dovedale bridge (left), crossed over and made our way down the more popular path to the lower bridge (right). By this time, I had made up my mind not to go fellwalking today, it's just too hot and the tops offer no shelter or protection from the intense sunshine and they have nowhere for Molly to cool off.
Sykeside Campsite
At around 10:30hrs, we set off from the campsite in the direction of Glenridding.
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River Work |
Brotherswater |
They are unstraightening Kirkstone Beck to slow down waterflow and provide more opportunities for fish and other wildlife. It comes at quite a cost, but the chaps and chapesses involved seem to be quite happy to be working here. Watch out for a new bridge over the beck on this walk from Sykeside to Hartsop Hall.
Angletarn Pikes
We walk along the west side of Brotherswater to Cow Bridge.
Brotherswater
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Hartsop Dodd |
Hartsop Fold |
The map shows a permissive footpath across the valley alongside Goldrill Beck, but I know the river course has been meandered and I had my doubts as to whether the footpath is still is use, so we walk up the road a short distance and take the farm track to "Hartsop Fold". Parking for £5 is available in a field; an "honesty" box is provided.
To Patterdale
Dubhow Crag
All good here, we have just passed the start of the fantastic direct ascent route for Angletarn Pikes, if you haven't already done it, put it on the list.
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Rooking
Good init? I could live here.
Arnison Crag & Birks
We reached Side Farm....the cafe is currently closed and looks rather as though it won't be reopening soon. The farm access road takes us across the valley bottom to the village of Patterdale. Within the small village of Patterdale, the post office and convenience store is now closed and clearly will not reopen as such. It will as likely as not become "The Old Post Office" for self-caterers, but they will have nowhere local to purchase supplies or buy stamps and postal orders.
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Crowded Ullswater |
Glenridding Beck |
The lakeside scene at Glenridding was not for me. Hundreds of folk have descended on this small Cumbrian town and the shoreline is over-populated. In search of shade, I walked a short way up Glenridding Beck to sit on a rock and eat a sandwich.
To The Greenside Mining Area
We walked through Gillside Campsite and up on to the start of the Helvellyn ascent path. The second wall up offers a path along to Greenside Mine (disused). The purpose is to find a quiet river pool in which to take a dip.
Catstycam
The immistakable outline of Catstycam comes into view and the trees in the beck ahead look as though they might offer a deepening of the ravine. Two youngsters had been paddling in one of the pools near here and the young lady said it was "lush"! I have since discovered that this means "something or someone incredibly desirable". Lush indeed. Gradely, Sick!
The Pool
A bit tricky to get down to. Usual procedure, Molly has a swim first, then I go in and she takes a nap, keen to ignore me if I go into water.
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Molly's Nap |
Ghyll Scramblers |
The water was cooler than the outflow of Watendlath Tarn yesterday, but still quite acceptable for a swim. The ghyll scramblers arrived and some of the party of youngsters jumped in from above the waterfall.
To Glenridding
After the water-play we sauntered off back down to Glenridding on the miner's track. The plan had been to catch a bus back to Sykeside and I missed one by a minute! The next one would be 90 minutes later.
Molly's Tea
We took it easy in the parkland near the bus stops in Glenridding. Molly's food was back at the tent, so I sought emergency supplies from one of the shops; she usually has grain-free hypoallergenic stuff, but we had to compromise and it didn't seem to do her any harm.
Soon enough a Number 508 bus came along and took us back to Sykeside.
Walkers: Me n' Molly
Time taken: 5hr 30mins over distance of about 9 miles; 1240ft of ascent (all the little ups and downs!)
Route: Sykeside Campsite; Brotherswater, Hartsop, Beckstones, Crookabeck, Rooking, Side Farm, Patterdale, Glenridding, Gillside, Greenside Mining Area for a swim high up Glenridding Beck. Back down the miners' road to Glenridding for the bus back to Sykeside.
Weather and Conditions: Sunny and hot.
All photos copyright Richard Ratcliffe 2022 ©
Take me back to the start ....