 | Silver Crag and Silver Bay. 3 and a half miles, easy and superb scenery |
Parking is available in Patterdale, the car park is on the right just across from the Pattedale Hotel. The charge for all day is £4.50, a bit steep but if you’re early enough you could park on the road for free.
From the car park turn left along the main road passing the White Lion on your left. Take the next road on the left (cul de sac) that takes you to the small Hamlet of Rooking.
As you pass the 1st house on the left, take the track on the left towards Angle Tarn and Side Farm, after a short distance a wooden gate on the right leads on to the fell side, signposted for Angle Tarn and Boredale House. Pass through the gate and up a small incline (about 100 metres) and take the path that leads left towards Ullswater.
The path rises gently through the bracken and soon reaches a cave on the right with a stream dropping into it. Pass the cave and continue heading North with Ullswater soon appearing on the left. The path continues on and when you come to a fork in the path, take the left path and continue on towards Silver Cragg, a cone shaped Hill overlooking Ullswater.
As you approach Silver Crag, the path bears right, around it. It really is worth the short climb (5 minutes) on to the cragg for the stunning views of Ullswater, and the Helvelynn and Fairfield mountains beyond.
Having enjoyed the fabulous scenery, follow the obvious path down to the main track that passes to the left of a small reedy Tarn and drops towards Silver Bay.
The Stoney path is obvious as it descends steadily doen to the the lakeside before meeting the main Lakeside path that crosses it.
Here, turn left with the lake now on your right. After a few metres you have the opportunity to detour to the right on to the craggy headland above Silver Bay. The view here is stunning, looking across Norfolk Island in Ullswater to the fells beyond.
Retrace your steps to the main path and follow this back to Patterdale. As you arrive in the farm yard of Side Farm, turn right between the buildings and follow the farm track over Goldrill Beck and on to the main road. Turn left and walk the short distance back to Patterdale.
