Group “Away Break” to the Lake District National Park - Autumn 2023
Our Hotel for the four or five night break
Our traditional September weekend away break was changed slightly this year and we opted for a mid-week break instead. Our destination was the Lake District and we chose to take advantage of a mid-week break offer from the Patterdale Hotel, part of the Choice Hotels Group. The offer allowed us to stay for four nights, Monday to Thursday inclusive with the option of adding the previous Sunday night at a reduced fee. Most of our group decided to stay for the four nights although a few stayed for five nights. Sadly, some members were unable to join us for the full length of the break but either arrived later in the week or left early. Altogether there were thirteen of us staying at the hotel although the maximum number on any walk was nine.
Throughout our stay the catering was excellent. There was a three-course meal every evening with a reasonable choice of at least three items for each course. The only problem was knowing which to choose as all the choices were delicious. The breakfast was equally good with plenty of food and constant tea or coffee. The staff were very friendly, attentive and efficient. A slight disappointment was that coffee was no longer served in the lounge after the evening meal but to compensate the bar was well stocked with a good range of beers, wines and spirits.
The weather forecast for our week did not look particularly favourable but Monday appeared to be one of the better days and Wednesday looked as if it would be total washout as storm Agnes passed over Cumbria.
There were four of staying in the hotel on Sunday night and after our evening meal we decided that because Monday was forecast to have the best of the weather, we should take the chance to climb one of the higher hills next day. As one of our planned walks for the week was Fairfield via St. Sunday Crag from the hotel and return over Hart Fell to Bridgend that is what we decided to do.
Monday 25th September (Fairfield from Patterdale)
Ullswater seen from St.Sunday Crag
After a hearty breakfast we changed into boots and set off in the intermittent light rain. The forecast led us to believe conditions would improve and this would appear to be the case as the sun seemed to be shining on various hills around, particularly to the north, but never on us. The paths in the Lake District are generally well maintained and easy to follow and after a couple of false starts, when we followed the wrong path, we were soon walking steadily upward onto St. Sunday Crag. The cloud base was above the summit when we arrived but the higher hills of Fairfield and Helvellyn remained enshrouded by cloud. We were lucky, however, because as we climbed onto Fairfield the cloud gradually lifted and we were able to reach the summit and remain below the cloud. Although the rain hadn’t been a problem, it was very intermittent with short showers, the wind was a nuisance as it was quite fierce and very gusty. It seemed to take great delight in blowing hardest when you were scrambling over rocks and only had one foot on the ground. After reaching the summit of Fairfield we had a pleasant stroll to Hart Crag over a flat plateau which provided good views to Windermere. Although we had reasonable visibility the cloud base remained at about the same height as Helvellyn and the autumn colours were very muted. After Hart Crag we descended to the Hartsop above How ridge and followed this to Bridgend. This was a pleasant ridge walk with both ups and downs although the majority were down. The weather improved as we descended and we had some brief spells of sunshine before reaching Bridgend. At Bridgend we joined the road and followed it back to Patterdale. We arrived back at the hotel and had pleasant chat and coffee with the rest of our group who had travelled down to Patterdale during the day.
Full details of this walk are located in the "Past Walks" section of this website.
Tuesday 26th September (Place Fell and Angle Tarn from Patterdale or Patterdale to Hartsop via AngleTarn)
Traditional stone Buildings near Hartsop
The forecast for today’s weather implied the weather would be wet for most of the day but better in the morning than the afternoon. We opted to do a walk which could be shortened or lengthened as the weather conditions dictated. We intended to start at the hotel and walk to Boredale Hause at which point we could either turn left to climb Place Fell or turn right to visit Angle Tarn. Thereafter we could make further decisions dependant on the weather. As usual we enjoyed a hearty breakfast and were pleased to notice that the cloud, which had been very low on Place Fell, had gradually risen. Nine of us set off, in the dry, and this was to remain the case until most of us returned to the hotel four and half hours later. When we reached Boredale Hause six of us opted to climb Place Fell while the remaining three chose to visit Angle Tarn and return to the hotel via Hartsop. The cloud continued to rise and Place Fell was now clear of cloud as we started the ascent to the summit. Once again, as we gained height, the wind speed increased and by the time we were on the summit of Place Fell it was very hard to stand upright as the wind buffeted us and tried to blow us of the summit. After taking the usual summit photographs and avoiding being blown over we descended, the way we had come, to Boredale Hause. Before leaving Place Fell two of our party decided they would stay near the summit to enjoy the view and eat their lunch. They would then return to Patterdale independently. At Boredale Hause the remaining six of us decided that we had been lucky with the weather so far and so we would continue to Angle Tarn. It was an easy walk to the tarn, where would have had our lunch except for the fact that the only rain on our walk started just as arrived. We stayed long enough to admire the “white horses” racing across the surface of the water and drink a quick cup of tea before heading back to Bordale Hause. We considered climbing Angletarn Pikes but decided against this due to the wind. We had a pleasant downhill walk back to Bordale Hause and then to the hotel via our outward route. As we returned to the hotel the forecast rain started and as we drank our coffee in the hotel lounge, we could watch the torrential rain and realise how lucky we had been with the weather.
Full details of these walks are located in the "Past Walks" section of this website.
Wednesday 27th September (Glenridding Dodd from Patterdale)
The group at the top of Glenridding Dodd - before the rain
Today was forecast to be the worst day as far as the weather was concerned and we opted for quite a short walk from the hotel. As yesterday, the forecast was for better weather in the morning with heavy rain from midday onwards. Our intention was to walk from the hotel to Glenridding and then to climb Glenridding Dodd with the option to continue to Sheffield Pike if the weather turned out to be better than forecast. After climbing Glenridding Dodd or Sheffield Pike we would return to the hotel via Glenridding. Eight of us set off from the hotel and had a pleasant stroll along the path to Glenridding before climbing Glenridding Dodd. We decided not to climb Sheffield Pike due to the wind and forecast rain. The weather forecast was right as the rain started at about midday and became gradually heavier all afternoon. We were lucky as we returned to the hotel in the early afternoon and did not get particularly wet. During the wet afternoon some of our group went to Keswick to visit the pencil museum which they found both fascinating and educational while others enjoyed the comfort of the bar and at least one wallowed in the luxury of a deep, hot bath. The evening meal was, as usual, very good but that was not the end of the evenings activities as there was “live” music in the bar during the later evening.
Full details of this walk are located in the "Past Walks" section of this website.
Thursday 28th September (Grasmere, Rydal Water and Loughrigg Tarn from Elterwater)
Inside the cavern hewn in the rocks at Loughrigg Quarry
Today was another day for which the weather forecast predicted a wet day with heavier rain in the afternoon and strong winds on the mountains. We opted to do a walk which had been planned for our last visit to the Lake District but had been cancelled due to the covid pandemic. The walk was a low-level walk from Elterwater, taking us past Grasmere, Rydal Water, Loughrigg Fell and Elter Water before returning to Elterwater. This was the only walk during our holiday which involved using cars to access the start of the walk. A compliment of nine walkers set off and we had a 45-minute drive from Patterdale through Ambleside to reach Elterwater. During the journey we noticed the very spectacular waterfalls coming off all the hills. The waterfalls in the Kirkstone Pass were particularly spectacular and we noticed that the River Brathay was extremely high. It was a pleasant easy walk through very pretty countryside with no steep climbs. The autumn colours and the lack of the predicted rain made for a very nice walk. We also had the bonus of a disused slate quarry with an interesting artificial cave hewn out of the rock. After passing the quarry we decided to change the walk slightly as the leader was concerned that a section of the walk which was adjacent to the River Brathay may be flooded and impassable. The amended route took us past Loughrigg Tarn instead of Elter Water. Despite the dire predictions of rain, we arrived back in the car park dry and returned to the hotel for our final night.
Full details of this walk are located in the "Past Walks" section of this website.
Friday 29th September (Bowscale Fell from Bowscale)
The "pile of stones" at the summit of Bowscale Fell seen from the cairn at the summit of Bowscale Fell
This was our last day in the Lake District and oddly enough it was the day with the best weather forecast. A short, 10km, walk was on offer but I was the only member of our group who took up the option. The rest of the group with either anxious to return home, to get on with the household chores which had been abandoned for a week, or were travelling further field and wanted to set off early. My walk started from Bowscale, a small hamlet to the north of the A66, and took me to Bowscale Tarn. Initially it was along a farm track but this changed to a grassy path as I neared the tarn. After visiting the tarn, I had a short, steep climb which soon levelled out to reach the gentler slopes of Bowscale Fell. The summit of Bowscale Fell was quite flat and the OS map shows it to have both a cairn and a “pile of stones”. Both features looked very similar although the cairn was horseshoe shaped and provided some shelter from the very strong wind. The weather during the walk had been reasonably good but there was a strong wind, in fact there was so much spray blowing off Bowscale Tarn that the unwary walker could get soaked without there being any rain! Once clear of the relative shelter at the tarn the wind became very fierce and standing up on the summit was difficult. My return route was down the east spur of Bowscale Fell to Mungrisdale and then walk along the road to Bowscale.
Full details of this walk are located in the "Past Walks" section of this website.
It was a great holiday and those who managed to get away for the break thoroughly enjoyed themselves.