Patterdale, Deepdale Hause, Grisedale, Paper Bridge, Cumbria.
[15.8 km] Tue 19 May 2015

OS Grid Ref: NY 39728 15821
Lat/Long: 54.534061, -02.932946

Back in Patterdale to explore Deepdale, a valley I’ve never visited before. There had been a lot of recent rain but none as I set off along the A592 south. I left it for a farm track to Deepdale Hall.

After Wall End the track ended and I was on a very wet path. Up ahead I could see the impressive steep rocks faces heading up to Fairfiled. The weather deteriorated and I had to walk in waterproofs as the rain came. There was a nice hanging valley at Sleet Cove which would make a nice camp site but I don’t think there was a mobile signal. The way ahead up to Deepdale Hause looked very foreboding but as I got closer a faint path was there to follow and I climbed up without difficulty.

Over the Hause was a steep path down which levelled out after a while and took me to Grisedale Tarn. The weather improved with some patches of sunshine. I made the descent to Ruthwaite Lodge as many people were making their way up.

One of my objectives was to visit the Paper Bridge I saw last week. It was due to stay up till yesterday and I didn’t know if it would still be there. When I got here I was pleased to see it hadn’t all gone. Steve Messam, the artist, was there as the structure was being removed. They’d only started dismantling it today.

Just a few piles of paper were left. I chatted with him about it and he came over as an OK guy. As I left Alan Hinks, the mountaineer, came bounding up. I had a brief conversation but he soon shot off as I was in mid-sentence underlining his reputation as a grumpy Yorkshireman. Manners cost nothing. I continued my descent down Grisedale then the path by the sports field at Home Farm and back to Patterdale.
 

Steve Messam by what remains of  his bridge.