Stage 1: Patterdale to Boredale Hause

Leave the car park and walk south-east (left) along the A592 for about 200 m, before turning left along a narrow lane. The lane passes through the small hamlet of Rooking: at a fork, take the footpath in between the lanes. It soon turns right and begins to climb: in less than 1 km the path climbs up the 200 m of elevation to Boredale Hause, offering views out over Patterdale to the west and the remote Martingale Common to the east.

Stage 2: Boredale Hause to the Summit

A very straightforward section involving walking up a steep path until you reach the top of Place Fell. The correct path is to your left (north) as you approach Boredale Hause.

Stage 3: Descent

The descent begins with a tricky route-finding exercise: the path we need to pick up to descend doesn’t extend to the summit. Walk west from the summit past the first few craggy outcrops, and curve round to the right when possible. The going is relatively easy grass, if steep. You should soon pick up a small track, initially heading north / northeast. A GPS-enabled device is very helpful to find it – but as ever, do not be caught relying ion batteries as your sole means to navigate! Once on the track, it is a straightforward, if steep descent to the level of Ullswater.

Stage 4: Along Ullswater

Once you reach a main path at the bottom of the fell, turn right for a few metres, before taking a sharp left turn. This takes you down past a memorial to another path parallel to the lake shore, but at a lower level. The lower path south leads along behind the high drystone wall of Side Farm campsite. You can then turn right through the farmyard of Side Farm, past the campsite’s shop and tearoom, before heading back up to the main road and turning left to get back to the car park. A short diversion to the picturesque St. Patrick’s Church in Patterdale (right instead of left along the road) is well worth it if you have time..