Patterdale to Eskdale
1 NY392161 From St Patrick's church in Patterdale head along the A592 northwards in a westerly direction. Turn left at Grisedale Bridge and follow the lane with Grisedale Beck to the right. The road bends sharply to the right and the way is indicated by a signpost marked 'Helvellyn Grisedale Tarn’. Keep forward, passing the entrance to Braesteads Farm before passing another farm on the left. Go through the gateway and continue until passing a stone barn indicating 'Grisedale Tarn and Grasmere'. Continue through the gate, as the path begins to climb up Grisedale valley towards Nethermost Pike, before crossing a footbridge over Grisedale Beck to arrive at Ruthwaite Lodge. Bear left and continue upwards on the well-defined path until Grisedale Tarn comes into view next to a large cairn. With the impressive Fairfield on your left traverse around the tarn, continuing over Grisedale Hause where the descent into Grasmere begins. Descend on the path, taking the right fork as it divides, passing Hause Riggs and negotiating the steep grassy slope alongside Little Tongue Gill and Tonguegill Force to the busy A591. Cross directly over, taking the quiet lane over Low Mill Bridge, turning left towards Grasmere before passing Thorny How on your right to arrive at a T-junction.
2 NY332081 At the junction turn right and continue up Easedale Road. Shortly before Oak Lodge turn left, crossing Easdale Beck via the small footbridge, signposted 'Easedale Tarn'. The path is now easy to follow, passing Sourmilk Gill. The prominent Easedale Tarn soon comes into view as you continue around the left-hand side, climbing steadily towards The Matterhorn of the Lake District – Belles Knott. The last part is steep and rocky before flattening and then rising again to a pile of stones where Codale Tarn comes into view. From here climb north-west on a grassy path until you reach the rocky knob of Sergeant Man, with superb views of Easedale and the Langdale Pikes. Continue further north-west on a fainter path to the trig point at High Raise, marking the centre of Lakeland. 3 NY280095 You are now aiming for the obvious small tarn below and directly to the south-west; however there is no obvious path so care should be taken as you cut across the open fell to Stake Pass. Cross over Stake Pass and continue ahead, making your way around Rossett Pike until you reach Angle Tarn. From here bear right and climb up the well-defined path until you reach a stone shelter.
4 NY234082 From the shelter, proceed left up to Esk Hause. From this popular junction begin the descent towards Upper Eskdale. With the main path up to Esk Pike to your left. Continue straight ahead, taking the faint path that follows the gully, hugging the ghyll on your left. It is steep going and narrow at times but soon turns into a grassy slope, bringing you to the open boggy expanse of Great Moss. From here it is an enjoyable walk following the flat bank of the River Esk, with the forebidding cliffs of the Scafells ever present. As the river tumbles away to the left rejoin the main path shortly after the giant Sampson's Stones.
5 NY217050
Continue on the path descending past Silverybield Crag and Rowantree Crags before the path steepens, bringing you to Scale Bridge. Head forward on the path, crossing the ladder stile and descending a grassy slope that turns into a bridleway, eventually bringing you to Taw House Farm. After leaving the farmyard continue to Birdhow, a small stone house, where you pass through a small gate on the left and cross fields, bringing you to the roadside. A short walk along the road in a westerly direction finally brings you to the Woolpack Inn.