Get Lost Mountaineering

Arnison Crag from Patterdale

Start/Finish

Patterdale village on the A592 from Kirkstone Pass to Ullswater. Patterdale is about 1 km from the S end of the lake. Parking is limited in Patterdale so be careful not to irritate the local residents.

Distance/Time

5 km      About 2 - 3 hours

Peaks

Arnison Crag, 433 m, NY 394 149.   OS 1: 50 000 , Sheet 90.

OS 1: 25 000 Outdoor Leisure 5, English Lake District NE Area.

Introduction

This is a very short walk, ideal for a mid-winter's day. There are excellent views of Ullswater, Place Fell, Hartsop Dodd, Sheffield Pike, Hartsop Above How, Dove Crag and Hart Crag plus many more. This hill is covered with bracken in the summer but the ascent route given avoids the worst of this. The descent route is not as good as the ascent route and has little to commend it so it might be better to descend by the ascent route.

Route

(1) There are three routes out of Patterdale. The first goes across the front of the Patterdale Hotel then behind to where a path leads off the back of the hotel. This may not be obvious if vehicles are parked but there is a footpath sign. The second is the track between the Post office and the car park opposite the White Lion. The third is a fainter path from opposite the turning to Rooking (follow the road from the White Lion towards Kirkstone, it is the first left). All of these lead to a good path which climbs gradually, passing through a gate in a wall. When the next wall is reached, going uphill S, follow the path up on its E side. When the wall and path diverge, fairly high up, take the path going left which winds its way up to the gap between the two tops. Visit both but the S top is the higher and its small cairn marks the summit of Arnison Crag, 433 m.

(2) The better path down is the route of ascent but for those who prefer a circuit, walk SW along the undulating ridge to Trough Head then descend, by the beck, to the iron ladder stile. Alternatively, follow a path below this crest, on its N side, which soon rejoins the wall followed on the ascent. As the wall turns, one can easily drop down grassy slopes to the stile. From the stile, follow an often boggy path down the side of the beck, crossing over lower down to pick up a faint, now seemingly unused, grassy track which can be followed down to join a good path lower down. This is the path used initially on the outward leg. Turn right and follow the path back to Patterdale.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 18^th January, 2014.