George Starkey Hut, Patterdale weekend meet. 27- 30 September 2024
Jim writes -
I was very much looking forward to revisiting the George Starkey Hut at Patterdale having missed out on the club's previous visit a few years ago. As I am also a member of the Austrian Alpine Club, I was able to book an extra night in the hut independently for myself and Ewen. We left Inverness on the Thursday morning, shared the driving, stopped at Morrisons in Penrith for supplies arrived at arriving at the hut in the early evening.
On the Friday morning Ewen and I set off from the hut and ascended Arnison Crag via the path that goes up from behind the Patterdale Hotel. Arnison Crag is a small hill with Wainwright status which rises steeply to the south of Patterdale. It's a proper rocky peak with an excellent view of Ullswater from its summit. However, Arnison Crag is really a low shoulder of Birks, itself a shoulder of St. Sunday Crag. We dropped from the summit to Trough Head and then headed directly up the steep slope to the summit of Birks. It was very windy on top, so Ewen decided to drop down into Grisedale, and make his way to Glenridding to check out the Travellers Rest pub for a refreshment.
I was keen to tick off St Sunday Crag as it's also an English Corbett so I pressed on up the ridge to the summit. St. Sunday Crag is the highest point on the North -East Ridge of Fairfield. The summit gives more excellent views of Ullswater, Fairfield and was rated by Wainwright as a fell for connoisseurs!
My final summit of the day was Seat Sandall, an isolated hill that joins the Helvellyn and Fairfield ranges. It stands as a guard above the Grisedale Pass. To get to its summit I descended from St. Sunday Crag to Deepdale Hause, then onto Grisedale Hause and ascended the hill from there. From the summit I went down the North Ridge to Grisedale Tarn, and walked out down Grisedale to the hut.
Seat Sandall and Grisedale Tarn from Deepdale Hause
Arnison Crag and St Sunday Crag from Place Fell
Fairfield from St Sunday Crag
On Saturday morning Ewen, Colin, Robin and I drove to Hartsop where we left the car. We went up Hartsop Dodd and then onto another English Corbett Stoney Cove Pike. We then dropped to Threshwaite Mouth where the party split. Colin continuing onto High Street to walk back to the hut, with myself Ewen and Robin returning to our car picking up the summit of Gray Crag on the way.
On the Sunday, I had an easier day. Myself, Ewen and Robin walked from the hut up to Boredale Hause. Robin headed off in the direction of Angletarn Pikes, whilst Ewen and I went up Place Fell. Place Fell is a gem of a hill overlooking Patterdale and Glenridding alongside Ullswater and gives a fine view to the Helvellyn Range. From the summit we dropped directly to Ullswater and walked back along the shore to the hut.
A very successful and enjoyable trip. Eight new Wainwrights ticked off, including my 100th St. Sunday Crag, four Marilyns; two of which were Corbetts, St Sunday Crag and Stoney Cobe Pike; two Grahams, Seat Sandall and Place Fell; plus ticks on the Hewitts, Nutalls and Birketts lists too. The trip was rounded off with a group meal at the Ullswater Inn.
And Steve writes -
On Friday I went up Seat Sandal via an enjoyable walk up Grisedale - Jim and I gave one another a wave at one point but didn’t quite manage to meet. Saturday saw me climb a rather damp High Rigg following various detours en route and attempt on Lords Seat thwarted by road closures. On Sunday I climbed Hallin Fell at Martindale after driving what must be the worst road in the UK. I should have gone by the steamer!
Taking part: Marion, Peter, Colin, Fiona, Margaret, Robin, Jim, Ewen and Steve.
Words and photos: Jim and Steve
Grisedale from Seat Sandall
High Raise from Castlerigg Stone circle