Getting to my new place of work has been proving too problematic using public transport. Riding my bike was doable but I had too many near misses with vehicles getting too close when they were overtaking me so I have took the plunge and gone back to having a car again.
So....
We parked at Patterdale on Saturday. We were doing Catstycam and then finding a pitch for the night somewhere. I have more to think about now planning where we are going, I need to think about where we are leaving the car and getting back to it again. It is going to take some getting used to.
We walked by Ullswater shore to give Squeaky a run about. It was a blustery day with sunny spells but we did have a few spits and spots of rain now and again. Squeaky made friends with Max the sheepdog and had a bit of a run about with him. Max then cocked his leg and peed on Beefy's legs
Luckily the nearby toilets are still open and Beefy could clean it off.
Birkhouse Moor and Sheffield Pike from near Glenridding Pier
Place Fell from near the pier
We'd walked by Gillside Campsite and debated doing the Mires Beck route but decided on the Red Tarn Beck route instead.
Beefy and Squeaky walking up by Glenridding Beck
It was pretty quiet we'd hardly seen a soul on the path we were on. There was a big group of walkers on the other side of the beck mind. It was tough going up here; the wind was blowing into our faces for most of the way up. We stopped for an early lunch near Red Tarn Beck about 3/4 of the way up. We wished we hadn't stopped because about 3 million people passed by us on the path walking up to Red Tarn. I have never seen so many walkers about except for on Scafell Pike, Ben Nevis, Snowdon and Arthurs Seat! Where did they all come from
Helvellyn and Swirral Edge
We got to Red Tarn feeling we were walking in a city centre
If we'd carried on and not stopped we would have avoided them.
Striding Edge
It was busy on Striding Edge, surprising because the wind was quite strong at times.
Looking back at Swirral Edge from the path to Catstycam
The wind was ferocious going up here and we thought nobody would be hanging around on the summit.
Beefy and Squeaky on Catstycam.
Oh.. with some people who were hanging around on the summit
The north western fells over Lower Man and White Side from Catstycam
Skiddaw seen in between White Side and Raise from Catstycam
Cloud now covering Helvellyn
Toward St Sunday Crag
We didn't stay long on the summit, it was too windy. How the two walkers could sit there in that awful wind is beyond me
We made our way back down to Red Tarn and walked by the wall to Birkhouse Moor.
Looking back to the Helvellyn edges and Catstycam
Beefy and Squeaky on Birkhouse Moor
The view toward Ullswater on Birkhouse Moor
Descending on the Mires Beck route
We got some water for our camp from Mires Beck and looked around for a pitch. Not easy because it was windy, the ground was soggy but we found a place eventually sheltered from the wind but it wasn't the flattest pitch we have ever had.
The Hubba Hubba pitched on Birkhouse Moor
Nice view of Ullswater from our pitch
Across Arnison Crag to the Far Eastern Fells
St Sunday Crag from our pitch
We didn't get a sunset view and there were some heavy bursts of rain now and again. We were nice and dry in the tent though. We had our tea, had some wine and enjoyed the view of Ullswater until it got too dark to see it.
Morning mist from our pitch
We packed our gear with rain threatening. We traversed the fellside to meet the Mires Beck pitched path. Not great when it is wet
Squeaky leading the way down the path
We did get some rain on the way down but it wasn't that heavy.
Arnison Crag from near Glenridding Pier
We got back to the car as the rain got heavier. We were lucky really, it tipped it down for most of the day after that. Not a bad weekend, nice to have a car again, it makes for a quick exit home
Day 1 was 9 miles and 800m of ascent - Patterdale - Glenridding Pier - Gillside Campsite - Red Tarn Beck - Red Tarn - Catstycam - Red Tarn - Birkhouse Moor - pitch near Mires Beck. Day 2 was 3.5 miles 60m ascent - pitch - Mires Beck path - Gillside Campsite - Glenridding Pier - Patterdale.