Name of walk | Paper Bridge in Grisedale and Hard Tarn |
Date of walk | 2015-05-15 |
Distance walked (miles) | 10 |
Duration of walk | 5 hours 30 minutes |
Weather | Sunshine |
Peaks on walk | None |
Walked with | Ged. |
Parking | Lay-by Patterdale |
On Friday Ged and I went to Patterdale to walk into the Grisedale Valley to see the Paper Bridge, an Art Installation by artist Steven Messam, it was due to be dismantled on Monday. We would then continue on up the valley to Ruthwaite Lodge. From there we would climb up into Ruthwaite Cove to Hard Tarn. A walk of 9.6 miles.
As we got to Patterdale early there was still space to park in the lay-by.
A lamb yet to grow into his ears.
View into Grisedale. The bridge is about three miles into the valley.
The barn that Alfred Wainwright posed next to.
A bit difficult to assume the 'Wainwright pose' with all the scaffolding!
First view of the red paper bridge.
Crossing the bridge over Grisedale Beck looking up to Dollywaggon Pike.
This saves me some typing!
The Paper Bridge.
Both the landowners and the artist Steve Messam were there this morning. Steve in black.
Ta da! It is quite bouncy!
This lady was 80 years old! Getting up is not easy, as there is not much friction. I helped to give her a 'bum-up' as she was quite determined to stand up there. She was from Penrith and yesterday had done 14 miles of the Hadrian's Wall Path. Her and a few friends do a bit every Thursday.
The landowners and their two dogs.
Ged attempting the climb up.
Close up view of the sheets of paper.
The wooden centring used to make the bridge.
Landowner's wife and Artist.
View back down the valley.
We now head on up the valley to Ruthwaite Lodge Climbing Hut. View back to the bridge.
We would be going up into the dip on the right to locate Hard Tarn.
We will climb up on the left of the waterfall.
Ruthwaite Lodge with Ruthwaite Cove behind. Hard Tarn is up at a height of 2,274ft.
View back down the valley and to Ruthwaite Lodge from the climb up.
We approach the tarn from above, not far below Nethermost Crag and High Crag. Looking across to St. Sunday Crag and Fairfield.
View across to Dollywaggon Pike. Still snow about. The tarn is poised on a rock shelf.

Two photo panorama of Hard Tarn, Ged on the right gives some perspective. High Crag summit just above.
I take this photo from the rock lip, behind me is a steep drop.
The tarn is only 3ft deep. We have our lunch here.
View out from the rock lip.
Then we head back down the valley. Approaching the barn again.
Fat lambs! We stop at the White Lion in Patterdale for a drink.
A reasonably gentle walk to attempt after the Keswick to Barrow walk on Saturday. So I have now walked 50 miles this week!
Jo.


