"The most gloomily sublime" is how the poet de Quincey described Easedale Tarn. Indeed the cloud hung low over the summits as we climbed away from Grasmere, but Sourmilk Gill frothed and foamed while brilliant shafts of sunlight painted the fellside in glorious orange. "Keep going. You'll make it!" encouraged a walker passing us. It made John quite cross! Shortly afterwards he passed us again as he hurried down to the valley. Our day though was far from over as we planned to circle the tarn and have our picnic among the boulders that the glaciers scraped off the steep slopes. Then it was down again, but via Stythwaite Steps where we met a flock of sheep processing across the bridge. Why hurry when there's so much to see!
LOCATION: South Lake District
START: Grasmere village, off A591, Broadgate car park
Grid ref: NY338078 Postcode: LA229RY
DISTANCE: 7 (or 5.5) miles
GRADE: Moderate
TIME: 4.5 hours
MAP: Explorer OL - English Lakes, South East Landranger 90
REFRESHMENTS: Lancrigg & Grasmere
EN ROUTE: Easedale, Tarn Crag
This walk was originally published by
The Manchester Evening News