We started from the White Lion at Patterdale, taking the path up to Boredale Hause. Clients Mickey and Vicky had requested a walk that was fairly gentle as Vicky hadn’t done any any mountain walking before. On reaching Boredale Hause I had planned on taking the route down into the valley of Boredale but they were enjoying being in the fells so I offered them two other choices - heading up Plaice Fell (which was already busy) or heading over to Beda Fell – a lovely quiet ridge with grassy paths, small rocky summits and very few other walkers. Beda Fell was the choice! This is a gem of a fell which I hadn’t been over it for quite some time and it was just as lovely as I remembered it! Lunch stop was on the highest point with glorious views over to Hallin Fell and Ullswater beyond.
Once off Beda Fell we headed over to Sandwick to find the Lowther Barn tearoom. I’d heard good things about this lovely café which had opened the previous summer and is only accessible on foot – converted from an old ruined barn. We found it about ½ mile along the footpath between Sandwick and Patterdale and sampled their tea and cakes which were as gorgeous as I had been told. There’s seating outside too and lovely lake views.
The last section of the walk is along the very popular lakeshore path. Many people take the lake steamer to Howtown and walk from there back to Patterdale for a shorter day out. Much of it is through woods of Silver Birches and Junipers and the shade was welcome as the afternoon was fairly warm. On reaching Silver Bay we headed down to the shore and had a very welcome and refreshing paddle in Ullswater.
Thanks Mickey and Vicky for great company!