Good times in Glenridding!

Glenridding weekend Part 1 - Hallin Fell 
 
Friday night took us up to Glenridding and to the Side Farm Campsite which by all accounts lived up to its reputation of being a bit slopey!!!!  Nevertheless we found a suitable pitch that wasn’t too bad and oh goodness me the views made up for it 100 times over.  So after a night of pitching, bbq’ing and generally relaxing watching  the sun disappear before the beautiful Sheffield Pike and Glenridding Dodd that was the sight before us, we were suitably refreshed early in the morning ready to head out and get a Wainwright under our belts.

 Packs loaded and sandwiches made we wandered out of the campsite and down round Ullswater towards the village of Glenridding where we’d find the terminal for the Ullswater Steamers.  The plan was to take the boat up to the other end of the lake and then walk back taking in Hallin Fell as our bonus prize of the day.

The trip on the Steamer was lovely.  Blue skies all around and fells and peaks looming over.  We could see over to Catseyecam and into the Helvellyn range with Swirrel and Striding Edge both looking spectacularly brilliant.  Thoughts turned back to the day we went both up and down Swirrel Edge in full winter conditions, crampons, ice axes and our chocolate Santa that we’d carried throughout the whole walk fell out of my hood and slipped down the ice sheet.  We wondered if anyone ever found him after the thaw and had a good giggle at the antics of that day.

The boat docked at Howtown and we headed inland.  The path took us up and away from the lake edge and over to the foothills of Hallin Fell.  This was a pleasant walk up and round the path, views of the lake and our target for tomorrow, Place Fell, were in abundance.   The higher we got the more peaks opened up and before long we could see over to St Sunday’s Crag, straight through to Helvellyn and even over to Blencathra and Skiddaw.  The weather was magnificent.  Beautiful billowy clouds, blue sky and a cool breeze to stop you from overheating.  Perfect walking weather.

Down off Hallin Fell we found the path that would lead us round the contour of the lakeside mountains which ultimately lead back to the campsite.  This was a busy route with all sorts of people on the path both going and coming.  One of the strangest sights we saw was a man carrying a rucksack designed for babies, but he had no baby, oh no, no baby at all.  What he did have though was a cocker spaniel….surely not, was the baby carrier for the dog when it got a bit tired.  Sadly we never saw what its main use was for.  It was on this path we stopped for lunch.  Cheese and piccalilli sandwiches and a pear, probably the most juiciest and delicious pear I have ever had, it was gorgeous.  Sitting there in the shade watching the boats go by was just so peaceful.

It wasn’t long before we were back at the campsite but decided to visit the tearoom first instead.  The afternoon sun by this time was beating down and the urge to just sit down and not move was too great.  Coffee and ice cream consumed we headed back to the tent to enjoy the afternoon sun.  The views over the lake were stunning and everything was so quiet and peaceful.

A beautiful end to a perfect day.  Good weather, a good walk and great company……….I’m a very lucky girl!

Part 2 -Plaice Fell

Sunday dawned and the sky wasn’t as clear but still full of enough blue bits to make us look forward to another days walking.  Place fell was the target and it had looked down on us from behind the campsite for 2 days now it was time to get up it.

After not a great nights sleep for me I wasn’t feeling my best but off we went anyways.  The path upwards was practically right on the doorstep of the campsite and it took us steadily up the side of the hill.  Quite quickly we had gathered quite a bit of height.  This was not a fell where you had a long walk it, it smacked you in the face with its steepness quite quickly but we steadily plodded on having the scenery around us as a distraction.   

Although the sun was out there was a cool breeze today and it wasn’t t-shirt weather as we were being buffeted by the chilly wind.  At one point on the side of the mountain dark clouds loomed and it looked like it could be rain any min.  This wasn’t good mainly because I hadn’t packed any wet weather gear………..major fail, rule 1 of any walking trip is pack for all weathers!!!!!

Luckily the looming dark clouds dissipated after a short while and we were blessed with blue skies and sunshine again.  The final path up to the trig point of Place Fell was an absolute treat.  What a beautiful fell, it comes quite close to one of my favourites, not my ultimate favourite but it’s certainly up there.  It’s got a character all of its own and I liked it.  Obligatory pictures taken and we were off down the path in search of the route that would take us over to Beda Fell.

Almost at the start of the descent I knew that my legs were struggling.  I felt twinges in my knees and sapped of energy.  My lack of a proper nights sleep was taking its toll and I really didn’t think I had another fell in me today.  We waited until we got to the bottom before I made my decision but the descent off Place Fell was right down to the road and the ascent to Beda Fell started there, no ridge walk, no linking route, just straight down and then up again and my heart sank as I knew, today, and the way I felt, I really wasn’t up for this.  Disappointing, yes but it’ll be there another day for us.

We decided, rather than take the path of yesterday back to the campsite, to get on the boat and take the Lake route back.  Wandering through the lower valley back to Howtown we could see the boat coming into port and reckoned we had about 15 mins to catch it.  We quickened our pace and made enough ground so that we were on the Pier before it docked and took the boat, back round the lake to Glenridding.

The afternoon was beautiful, sunny and bright and we took our time packing the tent away which signalled the end of our weekend.  Another brilliant escapade in the Lakes and a few more boxes ticked.