Grisedale, Lake District, Spring
Grisedale has to be in my top 3 favourite Lake District valleys.
I have a fairly troubled history with this place. The last time both Lisabet and I visited it was the middle of summer on a clear and hot day. We hiked all the way from the foot of the valley to Grisedale Tarn and back down. About 7 miles and 1,300 ft of ascent. In mid-20s heat, with no wind or clouds. Whilst being 23/24 stone. I suffered on that walk, and stumbled a lot on the way back down, which angered me.
Now I’m 7-stone lighter, much fitter, and mentally better. It was time to revisit this gorgeous valley, especially as it’s my birthday weekend (38 years on this planet, goodness).
Grisedale is a tributary valley of Patterdale, located in the north-eastern Lake District. Not to be confused with Grizedale Forest, which I’ve also been to. There’s quite a few Grisedale in Cumbria and North Yorkshire, and the etymology is the same: Old Norse gris meaning “pig” or “boar”, and Old Norse dalr meaning “valley”, giving us “valley of the boars”.
Most people access Grisedale for the purposes of summitting Helvellyn via Striding Edge, one of the “classic” Lakeland fells for thrill-seekers. But Grisedale itself has so much to offer, especially the views toward the head of the valley, featuring the craggy faces of Nethermost Pike (891 m/2,923 ft) and Dollywaggon Pike (858 m/2,815 ft), both ultimately subsidiary tops of Helvellyn itself (950 m/3,118 ft).
We arrived good and early, pre-8am. By the time we returned to the car, the car park was full as well as all the lay-bys and roads around Ullswater.
This summer is going to be insanely busy.
All photos shot on my Fujifilm X-T2 using my three prime lenses: a Samyang 35mm f/1.2, a Laowa 9mm f/2.8, and an adapted Pentax SMC 55mm f/2.0. Developed using RNI’s E100G film profile.
Lacing up.
As soon as you pop out of Waterfall Woods, this is the view that greets you. Look at it. One of the best valley backdrops in all of Lakeland.
Lambing is in full flow in the Lake District now. There are plenty of Herdwicks in Patterdale, but in Grisedale there are more Swaledales.
Heading through Elmhow Plantation, when an old stone barn catches our eye for a composition. Especially lovely as we were sitting in the shadow and the morning sun was starting to catch the Helvellyn fells.
Heading through Crossing Plantation as we get closer to the head of Grisedale. Dollywaggon Pike glows like a beacon in the morning sun.
Exiting Crossing Plantation, with the sheer slopes of St Sunday Crag (841 m/2,759 ft) rising to our left.
My lovely Lisabet looking tiny underneath Dollywaggon Pike. The interesting little crag to the left underneath the fell is referred to on OS maps simply as “Post”. The more you know.
Looking back down Grisedale from whence we came. In the distance is the hulking mass of Place Fell (657 m/2,156 ft).
After reaching the head of Grisedale we crossed the tiny footbridge and started our way back down the north-eastern side of the valley. We stopped at Nethermostcove Beck to shoot some compositions looking towards Eagle Crag, as well as for refreshment.
One of the finest scenes in Grisedale.
As we neared the foot of Grisedale, several gates offered some lovely compositions involving the full expanse of the valley. St. Sunday Crag to the left, and the Helvellyn fells to the right.
An older gate, still in use.
Back at the valley bottom, near Waterfall Woods, I attach my 9mm ultra wide lens to use the trees as a frame for this scene.