St Sunday Crag (841m), Birks (622m), Arnison Crag (433m) - 04/03/2019
Distance: 8.5 km, Ascent: 720m, Time: 4h
We did this walk with Alison's sister Gaye and our brother-in-law, Alan. Park in Patterdale opposite the Patterdale Hotel (£4.50 all day). Yesterday's rain fell as snow at higher levels giving the tops an awesome grandeur and making for even more spectacular views than usual. Good views of Ullswater between the hotel and Thornhow End, which ascends steeply. Once above the crags the view of St Sunday Crag ahead is spectacular. Alison and Gaye turned around at this point as the wind was quite strong and there was concern about slipping on the snow. Alan and I yomped ahead. We had planned to go over Birks on the way up, but the path was not clear due to snow on the ground and we ended up bypassing it. In retrospect this was not a bad thing, as it proved better to go over Berks on the return. From the route up and from the top of St Sunday Crag there extensive views of Hellvelyn and its neighbours to the north-west, Fairfield to the south and to the High Street range to the east. We took a short detour to Gavel Pike and then descended across a snow field before making the slight ascent to the summit of Birks. From here we went off-piste to gain the plateau'd ridge leading to Arnison Crag.