Angletarn Pikes and Place Fell
TWO Wainwright circular walk: Angletarn Pikes and Place Fell
Walk Rating:⭐⭐⭐
Time: 5 - 6 hours
Parking: in Patterdale (a few free places or, otherwise, paid car parking)
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| Place Fell and the Angletarn Pikes from the Kirkstone Pass |
Place Fell and Angletarn Pikes, both easily reached from Patterdale, give two different aspects of the beautiful views to be seen from the eastern side of the dale and across Ullswater.
This route links both fells and finishes with a tranquil lakeside walk back to the start of the hike at the village of Patterdale. (Post updated August 2022 to include alternative descents from Place Fell).
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| Strava estimates a walking distance of around 15km |
1. The walk starts in the village of Patterdale. Head across the main road from the village shop (looking for new ownership in 2021) and cross the Goldrill bridge.
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| Crossing the Goldrill bridge |
2. Follow the road towards Place Fell as it bends round to the left. Turn right through a gate and walk onto the fell along the path to the right. When it splits soon after, choose the upper path that slants up the flank of the fell.
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| Climbing the path to Boredale Hause |
3. The path levels out at a grassy area known as Boredale Hause. There are many different paths branching out you should find your way to an obvious, if sometimes muddy, path heading on to the south-east, towards the Angletarn Pikes and High Street. It has been worn into the peaty turf by many hikers' feet.
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| On Boredale Hause |
4. Follow the path around the top of Dubhow Beck, looking down its valley towards Brothers Water and beyond.
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| Looking down Dubhow Beck |
5. The path heads underneath, and to the right of, the 'twin peaks' of Angletarn Pikes. Head left and pick your way up to the top. The views from the higher, more northerly, knoll over to Place Fell and, west, towards Helvellyn, are particularly good.
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| The view from the top of the Angletarn Pikes |
6. Before you head back towards Place Fell, take the original path a little further to look down over the two small islands of Angle Tarn.
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| Angle Tarn |
7. Now retrace your steps towards Boredale Hause, this time taking the path that climbs northwards, up Place Fell.
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| Heading north to Place Fell |
8. The way up is obvious. There is a small gully to ascend over the knoll of Round How.
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| The rocks of Round How |
9. The summit itself (2156') sits on a small rocky knoll above some little tarns in the grass below. There is a tall column on its top.
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| At the top of Place Fell |
10. From the summit, an obvious path heads north-eastwards along Hart Crag, passing to the side of an elongated tarn. Take this route, past the tarn and then descend, quite steeply, to the depression of 'Low Moss'. (See "worth knowing" below for alternative routes down from the summit).
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| The onward path heading north-eastwards |
11. When you reach 'Low Moss', don't take the path heading onwards into Boredale but the path that heads left, down the valley of the Scalehow Beck, towards Ullswater. The path descends, through the ferns in summer, to the track around the lakeside below. Turn left to follow this track as it heads around the lake to the shoreline underneath Place Fell.
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| Make your way down towards Ullswater |
12. Continue on the track around the shoreline, taking in the views out over Ullswater.
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| Looking down over 'Silver Bay' |
13. After 'Silver Bay', you can choose to keep closer to the lake and follow the path around to Side Farm. Alternatively, take a higher route to the left of Silver Crag. This higher level route brings you out above the farm and you'll need to walk down the grass to reach it.
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| On the grassy slopes above Side Farm |
14. From the farm, you can either walk on to cross the same bridge that you did at the start, or take the farm road over the Goldrill Beck to return to the main road to the north of the village.
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| Looking across to Place Fell from the opposite bank of Ullswater |
Worth knowing: There are various other choices that can be made for a return to Patterdale from the top of Place Fell. Instead of heading north-east over Hart Crag, an alternative descent can be made on a path heading north down the fellside from the summit. From the col below, a path descends to the left, quite steeply in places, allowing a direct return down to Patterdale.
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| The northerly path descending to the col below Birk Fell |
Alternatively, continuing onwards, north-east from the col, a fine viewpoint out over Ullswater can be reached by walking up to the small peak of Birk Fell (also marked as 'Bleaberry Knott' on the OS map).
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| The view towards Helvellyn from Bleaberry Knott |
From there, although the paths aren't always obvious, more good views can be gained by continuing down to Kilbert How and then over to the impressive beacon on Low Birk Fell. From there, make your way down to the lakeside track near the foot of the Scalehow Beck.
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| The beacon on Low Birk Fell |
On reaching the lakeside track around Scalehow Beck, an alternative return to Patterdale would be to turn right and continue around the lake, underneath Hallin Fell, to Howtown. From there, you can take an Ullswater 'Steamer' back to Glenridding - although, as the lakeside walk is so good, perhaps it's best to make plans to come back another day!
Ullswater Navigation & Transit Co Ltd started operating steamer services in 1859, carrying mail, goods and passengers around the lake. Their two nineteenth century vessels were converted to run on diesel in the 1930s but still operate today, alongside other more modern cruisers.
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| One of the passenger boats under Place Fell |
