It’s not often that you get to start the day in a pub but that’s just what we did on a day when we decided to drive to Wasdale Head. The weather wasn’t the greatest as we arrived but with the weather forecast to improve during the day we were hopeful it would be OK. Once we got to Wasdale Head though, the heavens opened and the only place to shelter was in the Inn.

After quite some time and also eating lunch we could see that further down the valley towards the coast there was some blue sky and we hoped we could believe the forecast. The cosiness of the Wasdale Head Inn proved too much for some of the party but Richard fancied a walk so he joined us in doing a walk we have wanted to do for a long time, which was climbing to the summit of Middle Fell where we knew we would get great views towards the Wastwater Screes.

We parked the car at Greendale and were soon making our way up through the lower bracken-covered slopes. The path is obvious but it also seemed that this route wasn’t a very well-used path. I guess most people who visit Wasdale will be heading for the fells at the head of the valley but they are missing out on this great little fell.

It took us just over an hour to climb to the summit, which is just over 1900 feet, and we felt really pleased with ourselves as we enjoyed the views although sadly the cloud never did lift from the high summits at the head of the valley. It certainly was breezy on the summit, but despite this Nigel and Richard did see a Painted Lady butterfly taking a rest before flying on.  At the time I was on the slopes below the summit taking pictures of the views towards the screes of Whin Rigg and Illgill Head. 

We continued our walk, heading now for Greendale Tarn. Here we met a couple: one who was fishing in the tarn while the other was warming up some soup on a stove.  The soup seemed very tempting on this breezy afternoon.  We’d have loved to have had more time on this afternoon to extend the walk to Buckbarrow too, but we’ll have to leave that for another day as I’m sure we’ll want to return here. Today though we made our way carefully following the path that descends beside Greendale Gill. Before too long we were back at the car - a walk of about 3½ miles and just perfect for this afternoon. It’s a shame the weather didn’t quite allow for more sunny intervals and the low cloud wasn’t the best for taking pictures but sometimes that’s how it is and I know we are keen to return there on another occasion.

Before we drove back up to meet the others who had stayed up at the head of the valley we stopped by the lakeside to get a few pictures of the screes of Whin Rigg and Illgill Head as for a short while the sun shone on them bringing out all the colours of the different rocks. Back at the Inn the rest of the family told us of how they had enjoyed a walk around the head of the valley during the afternoon. We were all hungry by now so we all enjoyed one of the hearty meals the Wasdale Head Inn is very good at providing for hungry walkers.

Now it was just a case of driving all the way back to Ambleside. Because there were so many of us today we were travelling in two cars so one car went one way driven by Richard while I drove the other car over the Birker Fell road, along the Duddon Valley and then over the Wrynose Pass which is a drive I really enjoyed I have to say. In the evening sunshine we had some great views too which made a really enjoyable end to another busy day.

 

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