C2C Day 5 - Patterdale to Bampton Grange
Our walk today conformed to the pattern of the previous days in the Lakes – a long steady climb in the morning followed by a descent to our next overnight stop. But it was our last day in the lakes. The day began under an overcast sky, with a rainbow over Ullswater. The ascent to Boredale Hause provided great views back over Patterdale and Ullswater, and as we proceeded there were views ahead over Brothers Water.
'View over Patterdale, the White Lion, and Grisedale'
'Rain over Brothers Water and Kirkstone Pass'
All morning there were showers around us, but we seemed to be carrying our own little dry patch with occasional sunshine. Angle Tarn glittered in our patch of light. Past the Tarn we followed the obvious path over Satura Crag and Rest Dodd, but that wasn't the C2C route. So we descended off Rest Dodd across a swampy area to pick up the C2C route over the Knott and to the junction of paths, left to Kidsty Pike (our route) or right to follow the course of a Roman road over the Straits of Riggindale and High Street.
'Angle Tarn glitters in our patch of light'
'Straits of Riggindale, High Street on left'
We had planned to veer off the C2C route to go over Rampsgill Head and High Rise then down to Burnbanks, but the wind over the peaks was strong and icy. We donned all the clothes we were carrying and sheltered on the lee side of Twopenny Crag to have our lunch and several cups of warming tea. As we gazed towards Kidsty Pike we saw red deer grazing on its slopes. After the lunch break we decided to escape the wind as quickly as possible by taking the steep descent off Kidsty Pike. It wasn't as steep as Dent, but it was much longer. The exertion warmed us quickly as we were out of the wind.
'Kidsty Pike and Haweswater'
'Haweswater'
Initially the views of Haweswater and the waterfalls on the streams running into the lake were delightful. But the walk along the shores of Haweswater, mostly out of sight behind trees and walls, was the toughest section of the whole C2C. It was a relief to reach Burnbanks and to follow the few miles of bitumen to the Crown and Mitre at Bampton Grange. The rooms, bar and staff at the Crown and Mitre were warm, friendly and welcoming – just what we needed after a relatively long and testing day.
'From the road to Bampton Grange'
'Crown & Mitre, Bampton Grange'