Lantys Tarn with the "Bin Lids"

Kids and mountains don’t mix? or do they?

When I first started taking my little un’s to the mountains years ago I used to tell them that there was either an ice cream van or a McDonalds at the top, it would ensure they would only be crying one way.

I soon realised that for all the family to enjoy the day the kids need to be happy, if they’re not, nobody is.

This little route is perfect:-

We leave the hotel at 10am having spent the last 40 minutes fitting walking boots to my youngest, to tight, to slack, wrong colour, my toe hurts. We move onto the coat, to warm, the cuffs itch, it looks silly, I can’t breathe. Gloves and hat we go through the same pain.

The promise of a “fuel” stop at the recently re-opened Mini Market (closed for 12 month after storm Desmond) saves the day, they spend 10 minutes grabbing all they can carry and I spend 5 minutes putting it back.

                     

Then were off, finally walking along the side of Red Tarn Beck, with an amazing view of Birkhouse Moor in front. The route to Lantys tarn is fairly straightforward and signposted but you will need a map (Ordnance Survey OL5).

The route up soon shows you fantastic views of over Ullswater, you get a lot of view for the effort put in.

     

A well placed bench offers well deserved respite then finally Lantys Tarn appears through the woods. I never say it out loud but in my head it’s called “Atlantis Tarn” a prehistoric lost civilisation, a truly magical place.

      

After a short stop we follow the path past Grassthwaite Howe over the footbridge then left, towards Grisedale Bridge.

My Mrs said I needed to add this bit. Just as you get to the bridge look over the wall on the right and you will find a good old fashioned “Roundabout” the kids and Mrs spent 15 minutes on this whilst I just stood there shaking my head muttering “you need to grow up love”.

We follow the road into Patterdale and nip into the Patterdale Village Store for a hot chocolate and a bit of a warm. This was the first shop ever to sell Alfred Wainwright pictorial guides.

The route back couldn’t be any simpler as we just retrace our steps back to Patterdale bridge but continue along the footpath / road back to the hotel & straight into the pool.

And that’s it, everybody’s happy: - I’ve seen some mountains, the Kids have eaten sweets and walked in mud and the Mrs went back to her childhood wailing like a banshee on a roundabout – Happy Days.