27-30 August 2010 – Gillside Caravan and Camping – Glenridding

Bank holiday weekends are all about getting out to the places that aren’t do-able in the usual two day break from work. If you live in London, like I do, the Lake District really is too far to go for a weekend – but add in an extra day and it’s worth the hike up on Virgin Trains.

The very nice people at Gillside Campsite http://www.gillsidecaravanandcampingsite.co.uk – found a space for me, Will and Ana, despite the fact that I only called up to book the day before we came. I did my usual ‘we’re three walkers with no car and two very small tents’ spiel, and was grateful to hear them say that they always make room for campers! This is a great campsite in lots of ways – stunning setting, right by Helvelyn, five minute walk to pub, little bit further to shops and as long as you keep a careful eye on bus and boat timetables, fairly easy to get around. They also have a breakfast van at the weekends, serving up egg baps. What more could you need? Apart from better weather than we had on the first day, perhaps?

First day – How Town to Glenridding, via Fusedale, Red Crag, High Raise, The Knott, Angle Tarn, Rooking and Patterdale (13 miles)

It may have rained all night, it may have rained for much of the day, but it couldn’t stop the views from the top of the High Street – the roman road that runs along the hills to the east of Ullswater – from being outstanding. Plus the high winds certainly blew the cobwebs away! And despite popular rumour you can’t get away from the crowds in that part of the world, if you walk up high enough you get rid of them.

Second day – Glenridding to How Town, via Patterdale, Silver Crag and Scalehow Wood (8 miles)

A much more laid back walk today, along the lakeside from Patterdale to How Town, but still so, so pretty. And polished off with a pint of bitter in the public bar at the very eccentric How Town hotel. And then another pint of bitter or two in Glenridding…

Third day – Pooley Bridge to Penrith, via SockBridge and Red Hills (6.5 miles)

And finally back to Penrith train station, walking from Pooley Bridge. Nothing exciting and I got a bit lost at one point, but it was a final bit of maptastic action for OS Map OL5! Onwards to the next adventure, and the next map…