Walk 3670 - printer friendly version

Angle Tarn and Hayeswater Walk

Author - Peter Smyly

Length - 8.3 miles / 13.5 km

Ascent - 2000 feet / 606 metres

Grade - moderate

Start - OS grid reference NY395159
Lat 54.5347400 + Long -2.9364880
Postcode CA11 0NN (approx. location only)

This circular Lake District walk from Patterdale features two Lakeland tarns but no summits although with a slight route digression, the Angletarn Pikes could be included as could The Knott. The route offers glorious walking and excellent scenery throughout.

The start of the walk is the car park in Patterdale (grid ref. NY395159). Exit the car park and turn left along the main A 592 road. Turn first left along the minor road due north east between the Youth Hostel and the Patterdale Hotel. Cross the bridge over Goldrill Beck. Follow the road as it bends round to the left. Take the path through the gate on the right where a sign on a dry-stone wall indicates the way to Boredale Hause and Angle Tarn.

Continue along a gradually rising path that traverses the hillside in a south easterly direction leading to Boredale Hause, a col between Place Fell and the Angletarn Pikes. Boredale Hause represents a major route junction of footpaths, part of Wainwright's Coast to Coast route. From the collapsed marker cairn, cross a stream and take a path that leads to the south east and keep following the way ahead as it skirts round Angletarn Pikes on the left and leads to and past Angle Tarn with its islands and promontories, one of the more picturesque of the Lakeland Tarns. Angle Tarn was held in high regard by the late Lakeland author Alfred Wainwright.

The path drops slightly to skirt the tarn and continues on past it. Once the tarn is left behind continue below Satura Crag and across the flank of Rest Dodd. Before you reach The Knott, trend down to the right across pathless terrain to the outflow of Hayeswater. There is a path which can be picked up during the descent. A long and narrow body of water enclosed by mountains on three sides, Hayeswater is a very different tarn in appearance to Angle Tarn passed earlier in the walk. Good visibility should present no route-finding difficulties. According to Wikipedia, Hayeswater was restored to its natural tarn status in 2014 - the dam having been removed as it was not used as a reservoir since 2005.

Now continue the route by following the path downhill on the south side of the outflow of Hayeswater. Stay on the wide track, with the beck on your right, Hayeswater Gill, down to the village of Hartsop which is reached in around a mile. Continue through Hartsop and turn right on to the bridleway (grid ref. NY406132) which runs at valley level to Beckstones. Continue past Beckstones in a roughly northerly direction to reach the road used at the beginning of the walk. Continue ahead along the road which leads to Side Farm where a left turn takes you back to Patterdale and the start of the walk.

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