The Lake District Guide

Welcome to your accommodation guide to the English Lake District!

Whether you want a 5 star luxury break, or the low-down on the best cottages, youth hostels or great hotels for the family, we have the information you need. See below for the great selection of accommodation we have listed for you - most of it recommended through personal experience and feedback through this website.

Property Owners - to be included in our Accommodation Guide, please email rod@lake-district-guides.co.uk

A walk round Lanty's Tarn - 1.5 miles

Thousands of walkers climb Helvellyn every year via Striding Edge. They usually walk from Patterdale, or park their cars in the field at the head of the public road up Grisedale. The vast majority have no idea that they are missing delightful views over Ullswater from an easily reached point above. The view is beloved of photographers, and has appeared in books and on calendar many times.

The Grisedale road, signposted "Helvellyn" is reached from the north just by the "Patterdale" sign as you approach the village; turn right. From the south the turning, left, comes just after the church. Drive up the road, through the gate at the top then park at the side of the field. Leaving the car park by well-beaten Striding Edge path right, cross the pretty arch bridge. Walk up the track up the field opposite. Instead of going through the gate on to the Helvellyn track, turn right and go through the gate before it. You will see quite a lot of good Scots pines in this area. Go forward. At the Y-junction turn left. You will soon be at Lanty's Tarn. The fell on the left is Birkhouse Moor, a long spur of Helvellyn. Opposite, over the trees, is Sheffield Pike, on another spur.

Walk past the tarn. Go through the gate and turn right. Take the narrow path through the wall gap and up the little fell. Go slightly left through another gap in a broken wall. Go forward and at a point where the path begins to fall a little by the second of two pine trees, turn right and head for the cairn on the little summit. Go by way of the group of pine trees. As you reach this group a marvellous view down Ullswater opens up. Turn right and head upwards. Go to the sharp-pointed cairn. Sheffield Pike, over the Glenridding valley, remains the most impressive point from this view. Looking back over the tarn St. Sunday Crag is the nearest high point over Grisedale. To the right of the valley head, and commanding the head, is Dollywaggon Pike (2,810 feet), which is Helvellyn's southernmost spur. The summit of Helvellyn is obscured to the right of this, but you should see the approach path to Striding Edge, the ridge which approaches it from this side. Under Sheffield Pike at the head of the valley from Glenridding can be seen the remains of what was once a profitable lead mine. The old bank of mine waste to the right of the workings was sown with grass to hide the scars.

Walk back to the group of pines you just left. Then bear right to the tree-crowned knoll, towards the lake. The path is rather indistinct. Go towards Ullswater, bearing left slightly. There are several good viewpoints. Another point is reached by going back towards the summit, but when you descend into the hollow before it, turn right. A faint path leads onto a bracken-covered knoll. Go forward and left onto the next knoll. The chestnut trees on the left are a glorious colour in the autumn. You can see the steamer pier at Glenridding. The large hump of a fell the other side of the lake is Place Fell. A crag from it dominates the point - Silver Point. With binoculars at any other time than the height of the summer season, you might be able to see red deer on the side of Place Fell, as they wander over here from Martindale Deer Forest three miles beyond.

Return to the tarn, and back to your car the same way.