Last Easter, the weather was fantastic and I was lucky enough to spend a week in the Lake District in glorious sunshine. After doing two separate day hikes (one up to Place Fell and the other up to Red Tarn), we set off on a four day expedition, wild camping each night.
Day 1: Patterdale - Beda Head - Martindale- Red Crag - High Raise - Kidsty Pike - Haweswater. Camped in a quiet spot near the shore, with absolutely stunning views and had the whole place to ourselves. It was quite a long day, but with good views and saw almost no-one else.
Day 2: Haweswater - up Gatescarth Pass - Kentmere Pike - down via Shipmann Knots and into Kentmere village. Then a hot walk up Garburn Pass and then down into Troutbeck. Followed Nanny Lane up to Wansfell Pike and then to our relief found a flat spot to wild camp. Long day, but excellent views and had most of the route to ourselves.
Day 3: Weather was a bit rubbish today - cloudy and damp.Walked up to Kirkstone Pass, then a steep but fun climb up Red Screes. Spent rest of day in cloud: Red Screes-Dove Crag - Hart crag - Fairfield. Rain lightly as we passed through Grasmere, but cloud cleared away. Clear, but cool. Wild camped near Lang How above Easedale. Very quiet spot, but beautiful.
Day 4: A short last day, as needed to get home. It was also Easter Sunday, so broke open the Cadbury's Mini Eggs! Left early and headed to Stickle Tarn before the crowds got there. Really beautiful, amazing reflections in the water. Steep walk down into Great Langdale along the river and then finished at the car park. Great expedition, in fantastic weather and with good company. Wild camping each night was fun and peaceful - a good way to get away from the crowds in the more popular areas.
Photos in next post.
Edited: 08/04/2012 at 20:09
