Making a meal of it at Angle Tarn

[HalfManHalfTitanium]

Angle Tarn and its Pikes make an ideal objective for the short days of December.

our_route.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

We set off from the valley with this view of early morning cloud over Thresthwaite Mouth.

IMG_02 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

The brooding light gave a glow to the hills and fields. This is from the path up towards Boredale Hause, looking up Deepdale towards Hart Crag and Fairfield.

IMG_04 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Despite the wintry look of the landscape there was a colourful scene, almost like Chinese landscape painting, looking from near the Hause down to Patterdale and Glenridding.

IMG_05 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Aboe Boredale Hause the path leads through a little v-shaped ravine before opening out onto the fellside with the classic view ahead of Brotherswater, Red Screes and Kirkstone.

IMG_06 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Angle Tarn is one of my favourite places among the Lakeland fells, reminding me almost of the landscape around Cnicht in Wales. Fitful sunshine greeted our arrival at the tarn: it was a very mild day, and there was no wind.

IMG_06a by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Ideal conditions for a nice Monday brunch.

IMG_07 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

IMG_08 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

IMG_09 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

The sun came out for a longer period, giving a golden glow to the reflections around the tarn.

IMG_18a by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

IMG_17 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

IMG_16 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

IMG_18 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

We then walked alongside the tarn for a while in the direction of Buck Crag, before heading up onto the ridgeline and turning left towards the Pikes. Views of the tarn, with Brock Crags beyond it, were still good, but this was the last of the sunshine.

(Brock Crags is one of three animal-related names around Angle Tarn: next to it is Cat Crags, named after the wildcat, which forms the retaining wall of the tarn above the Patterdale valley, and of course there is Buck Crag too. The odd one out nearby is the curiously-named Satura Crag, near the path leading onwards up to High Street.)

IMG_18b by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

The higher of the two rocky Pikes reveals the whole of Patterdale below, but the higher fell tops all around us were now in thickening cloud. Wainwright's description of the Hartsop Above How ridge "curving like a sickle" seems very apt from this viewpoint.

IMG_19 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Wansfell through the "jaws" of Kirkstone.

IMG_20 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Another view of the head of Patterdale, this time in descent. Although it was only early afternoon, the best of the daylight was already over.

IMG_21 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

One last very brief patch of sunshine as we approached Boredale Hause again - Sheffield Pike catching the clouds in the background.

IMG_22 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

The last descent back to the valley, with Caudale Moor to the left, Red Screes and Little Hart Crag in the centre and the summit of Dove Crag just visible on the right.

IMG_23 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

One last photo - not by me, but of me. Out of sequence I'm afraid.

20161219_125927-01 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

[trailmasher]

A fantastic place to have 'brunch' Halfman and you certainly got some good photos of your day out at Angle Tarn and its Pikes. Good weather and report to go with them

[HalfManHalfTitanium]

A fantastic place to have 'brunch' Halfman and you certainly got some good photos of your day out at Angle Tarn and its Pikes. Good weather and report to go with them

thanks trailmasher! - yes the brunch was very tasty, largely down to some very fine Lake District bacon, and excellent Westmorland sausages from the butchers in Kendal!

Tim

[Alteknacker]

I was completely thrown by this initially: the only Angle Tarn I knew is just below Bow Fell.

But this one also looks pretty special, particularly when accompanied by a very appetising-looking brunch!

How green everything is! - in the theoretical middle of winter. Good? Bad? Certainly food for thought.

[nigheandonn]

Some lovely colours in your photos - and it looks like a good meal!

The High Street range often does seem to be snowfree, even when Helvellyn is white - maybe there are just too many higher hills between it and the sea to catch the snow first?

[HalfManHalfTitanium]

I was completely thrown by this initially: the only Angle Tarn I knew is just below Bow Fell.

But this one also looks pretty special, particularly when accompanied by a very appetising-looking brunch!

How green everything is! - in the theoretical middle of winter. Good? Bad? Certainly food for thought.

I agree - coupled with the mild temperatures and lack of wind, it felt more like October that December.

On the other hand, I was in Conwy about three weeks ago and could see that the Carneddau were completely plastered with snow. Just one of those variable British winters I guess, although mildness does seem to prevail overall...

[HalfManHalfTitanium]

Some lovely colours in your photos - and it looks like a good meal!

The High Street range often does seem to be snowfree, even when Helvellyn is white - maybe there are just too many higher hills between it and the sea to catch the snow first?

I think that's right. Today I saw (from Penrith) massed clouds over Helvellyn, then when they lifted (only for a moment) I could see that all the hills from Fairfield north were dusted with new snow - Helvellyn itself most of all, of course.

The clouds never reached the High Street range, and there is no snow to be seen on it.

[rockhopper]

Enjoyed that - one of my only two Wainwrights. Takes me back - we went up this hill while staying at the YH in Patterdale in 1985 whilst touring in my 1972 MGBGT in the days when I carried a full toolbox to carry out repairs and a gallon of oil to top up the engine from time to time - great memories - cheers

[HalfManHalfTitanium]

Enjoyed that - one of my only two Wainwrights. Takes me back - we went up this hill while staying at the YH in Patterdale in 1985 whilst touring in my 1972 MGBGT in the days when I carried a full toolbox to carry out repairs and a gallon of oil to top up the engine from time to time - great memories - cheers

A 1972 MGBGT - fantastic!

Yes the hill has good memories for me too - on a long hostel-to-hostel tour of the Lakes. The first day was Windermere to Patterdale, and after thick mist on Ill bell, High Street etc we finally emerged from the clag at Angle Tarn to a great panorama of all the Eastern fells.

[ChrisW]

Beautiful spot with fantastic images but my favourite by far is image 8.....what a great looking breakfast, made me hungry just looking at it ....