7-9 Shap - Ravenglass
From near the M6 to the mouth of the Esk, Jonathan Cook takes on a challenging three-day crossing of the Lakes.
This traverse of the Lake District begins in the lesser-known isolated fells to the east, following Wainwright's classic Coast-to-Coast walk. After reaching Haweswater the hills and crags begin to break through as the route steepens, taking you over the spine of High Street before descending past Angle Tarn into Patterdale and the Ullswater valley. An epic second day takes you up via Grisedale valley to Grisedale Tarn. You then visit the heart of Lakeland via Easedale Tarn and High Raise, before descending via the Upper Eskdale valley and its stunning views of the Scafells. A gentler final day follows parts of the Eskdale Trail along the River Esk to the coastal village of Ravenglass. TRANSPORT Bus to Shap from Penrith: tinyurl.com/shapbus Train from Ravenglass: Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway links with Cumbria Coastal line ravenglass-railway.co.uk (01229) 717171. Bus service X33 (summer only) tinyurl.com/ravenglassbus
PUBS/GRUB White Lion Patterdale Woolpack Inn Eskdale Rosegarth guesthouse Ravenglass (all as below)
ACCOMMODATION Shap: Kings Arms (01931) 716277 Patterdale: YHA Patterdale www.yha.org.uk/hostel/ patterdale 0845 371 9337 White Lion www.the-whitelion. com (017684) 82214 Eskdale: Eskdale Youth Hostel 0845 371 9317 www.yha.org. uk/hostel/eskdale Woolpack Inn www.woolpack.co.uk (019467) 23230 Fisher Ground campsite 07580 125952 www. fishergroundcampsite.co.uk Ravenglass: Rosegarth Guest House www.rose-garth.co.uk (01229) 717275
PRACTICALITIES Plenty of amenities in Patterdale and Grasmere including banks and several shops. After Grasmere nothing on route. Post office at Ravenglass.
LOCAL INFO www.visitcumbria.com/pen/ patterdale; www.eskdale.info; www.visitcumbria.com/wc/ eskdale; www.visitcumbria.com/ wc/ravenglass