What a fantastic days walking!  Days like these linger in the mind long after the legs fail. With a good forecast given we set off just before 8am and were parked up and ready to walk for 9-15am. From Patterdale we made our way up Arnison Crag. The path up alongside the wall was a bit slippy in places with the overnight rain but caused no problems. As we gained height the views down Ullswater opened up and gave us plenty of excuses to stop and admire them. However we soon reached the summit of Arnison Crag from where we could see our route towards Birks. This took us around the top of Trough Head before following an old wall up to the ridge from where it was a quiet stroll to the summit. We then followed the ridge SW'ly to the summit of St. Sunday Crag which would be our final summit of the day. We descended to the col at Deepdale Hause and then down a slanting path to Grisedale Tarn. After our "butty stop" we made the relatively gentle descent back down Grisedale to Patterdale.

Early morning at Patterdale

As we started to gain height the views down Ullswater began to open up giving us plenty of reasons to stop.

Looking over Keldas to Sheffield Pike and Glenridding Dodd with Hart Side and Stybarrow Dodd behind.

People often ask why do you want to slog all the way up the fellsides. This is the answer!

Getting near the summit of Arnison Crag now and looking across Trough Head towards Birks.

Edith on Arnison Crag

Dave on Arnison Crag

Our way ahead. We would go to the broken wall which can be seen left of centre and follow it up to Birks.

The pointed peak of CatstyeCam rises above Birkhouse Moor

Place Fell from Arnison Crag.

It would have been very easy to sit here all day. However other summits were awaiting our presence.

Taken into the sunlight looking towards Hartsop. The "helicopter lookalikes" were actually midges. I was having to wave my arm about to clear them, then quickly point, focus and shoot before they returned.

Dove Crag, Hart Crag and Fairfield with Gavel Pike to the right

Looking down into Trough Head.

We are ascending Birks now and looking across to Arnison Crag with Place Fell behind.

Edith on the summit of Birks with Striding Edge and the Helvellyn ridge behind her

Dave on Birks

Ullswater from Birks with Glenridding Dodd, Hart Side, Gowbarrow Fell and Great Mell Fell.

Our route ahead. We decided to follow the ridge path to St. Sunday Crag. A good alternative is the path across the flank to Gavel Pike and then the summit

Looking across into Nethermost Cove from Birks.

Still from Birks and looking E'wards to the High Street range with Hartsop Dodd and Gray Crag on the right

On our way to St. Sunday Crag now and looking back to Birks with Place Fell behind.

As David Jason in his role as Pop Larkin would say "Perfick, just perfick"

A close up of the Angletarn Pikes. The tarn can just be seen to the right of the twin summits.

Edith on St. Sunday Crag

Dave on St. Sunday Crag

For Part 2 of this walk click here

Last Walk:    7th October 2007 -- School Knott from Ashes Lane

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