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PLACE FELL (36)
Scroll down to view the photographs after the report or click here Today I am heading over to Patterdale village which is situated at the southern end of Ullswater. I intend climbing Place Fell 2,154 feet (657 metres) and then following what Wainwright described as "The most beautiful and rewarding walk in Lakeland", the Ullswater lakeside path, back into Patterdale village. The Foot and Mouth crisis is still on going although some of the fells have been opened, but access to them can only be gained by passing through designated, and manned, access points, where walkers are asked to disinfect their boots. I was up at 6.00am for an early start, eventually setting-off at around 7.15, and reaching the car park in Patterdale village at about 9.00. There was only one other vehicle there with a tent pitched alongside it and the occupants, a group of Germans I think, close by. I made my way to the southern end of the village passing the White Lion Hotel along the way, and on reaching the fell access point; I duly disinfected my boots before making my way across Goldrill Bridge. After a short walk along the narrow tarmac lane, a gate was reached and on passing through, the fell side path lay ahead. It was easy going after an initial steep start and the path was obvious and easy to follow. I was not sure what the weather was going to do at this point. It was warm but overcast and drizzly with mist and low cloud swirling around the tops of the fells. If it did rain, then it would give me a chance to try out my new shell jacket, a Lowe Alpine Foraker, which I purchased for £110, reduced from £180. After passing an old iron seat commemorating Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee, I soon reached my first goal of the day, Boredale Hause. I have been here once before and it is described by AW as being a walkers’ crossroads where a maze of paths meet, and can be confusing in mist. I can well believe it, as it is confusing in clear weather! After checking my map and compass, I headed up the path furthest to my left, which would eventually lead me to the rocky knoll of Round How. Again the paths were obvious and easy to follow but became quite steep as Round How was approached, which, after a bit of a scramble, its cairn was reached. Fine views (between the mist and low cloud) of Ullswater and Glenridding, but the wind was very strong at this point so I did not hang around for long. From here, I could see the stone OS trig point (BM S5957) on the summit of Place Fell a few hundred yards away. The going was easy if a little boggy in places, which made the other name of Place Fell, "Swampy Mountain", seem rather appropriate. The summit is rather rocky and again involved a little bit of scrambling over the rocks to reach the OS trig point sitting proudly upon it. The views were restricted due to the mist and cloud but the northern end of Ullswater was as clear as day and made for a beautiful backdrop. I found shelter from the wind below the rocky summit and decided to have a lunch stop. The top of Place Fell has a number of small pools scattered about it but only one substantial tarn, which is visible from and close by, the summit. I could see it from my vantage point but unfortunately, it was dry except for a small puddle towards the centre. Lunch over; I made my way down the clear path, which led past the tarn, heading northeast, passing a trickling spring, to reach eventually a ruined sheepfold on Low Moss. From here, the path swings left down into the valley of Scalehow Beck with its wonderful waterfalls. A little further along the path I came across a ruined quarry hut made from lovely grey coloured slate, a lot of which was scattered around the area. This is a peaceful and secluded section of the walk, and the beck is followed until the path crosses it via a bridge at Scalehow Falls, before joining the more "touristy" lakeside route. The path continues round the fellside through bracken and fallen rocks to become a delightful airy route above Ullswater, offering great views of the surrounding fells. By now the sun was shining and was quite warm so I decided this was as good a place as any for another lunch stop. I left the path and headed down towards the waters edge, a few feet away, to sit amongst some large boulders overlooking the lake. Perfect! As much as I would have liked to stay there, I managed to drag myself away and rejoined the busy path heading for Patterdale. Soon I came to a clearing and a rocky point overlooking the lake and offering fantastic views. A short distance away I could see the distinctive curve of Silver Bay, with its little beach, and Silver Point. Again I decided this was a good place to sit a while and soak up the atmosphere and views. Close to Silver Point the path splits into two, a higher path and a lower path, which eventually passes Side Farm where William Wordsworth, the famous poet, often stayed, and which is out of bounds at the moment due to the Foot and Mouth outbreak. The lower path was taped-off and so the upper path had to be followed. It was a pleasant, grassy route and eventually offered more fantastic views, this time of Glenridding and the Ullswater Hotel, which sits close to the lakeshore. The path now passed alongside a disused quarry with a lot of slate scattered around the fell side. Also close by was a cave, which looking at Wainwright’s Pictorial Guide, he names as ‘Seat Cave’. I made my way over to have a closer look. Water was dripping down from above the entrance and the rocks directly above did not look particularly secure, although I would imagine they had been there for quite a number of years! As much as I wanted to enter the cave for a bit of exploring, I decided against it just in case I became entombed for the rest of eternity, and so rejoined the path. I was approaching the end of the walk now and it was just a case of following the pleasant path back towards Goldrill Bridge and on into Patterdale village. At reaching the disinfectant point I again dipped my boots and was asked by the person staffing the point where I was from. After explaining I had travelled over from the Middlesbrough area, he remarked how grim Middlesbrough was and how he could understand my reasons for wanting to get away to the Lake District for some fresh air! I later realised I had missed a good opportunity of returning the compliment. Something along the lines of the Lake District having its own nuclear power station, or how the fells may well still be radio active due to the fall-out that reached this area a few years ago after an accident at a Russian nuclear power station! I was feeling a bit thirsty and on reaching the White Lion Hotel decided to treat myself to a nice cool pint of shandy before making my way back to the car in the now packed car park, and then home. Another very enjoyable day on the fells and another Wainwright "bagged". I am already looking forward to my next visit. This visit to the Lakes resulted in me bringing home a "guest" who had decided to hitch a ride on me! Yes, a few days later I discovered a sheep tick with its head buried into my calf, feeding away merrily without a care in the world! I had heard of other people having found ticks on them but this was my first, or at least the first I knew of, that I had found on me. Conflicting advice on how to remove them but suffice to say it was eventually removed and looked at under a microscope and they are not a pretty sight! Again conflicting advice on weather a visit to the Doctors is necessary or not due to the apparently small risk of infection from them i.e. Lymes Disease. I decided not to visit the Doctors but instead just observe the bite area in case of any reaction. Luckily things seem to be ok.
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