A damp 6km walk with Angie and Alistair, Anne and Frank.Route: leaving the car at the Broadgate Meadows car park and heading north along the road, over the bridge and then right on a footpath to cross the A591, walk up Swan Lane, bend left and take a path by a stream uphill. On reaching open fell, keeping straight on to cross a new footbridge - just below an exposed part of the Thirlmere to Manchester aqueduct crossing over Greenhead Gill - and ascend a large-stoned paved path weaving its way up the vague end of a ridge before levelling off to the tarn. Descending on another very clear path, in zigzags then a straight section and then further zigzags to reach a junction. For the first time, turning right on a path parallel to the hillside and descending very gradually, sometimes wading through water to reach Forest Side and thence back to the start.
Conditions: constant drizzly rain; windy higher up; very wet under foot.
Pub: Tweedies, Grasmere for Fell Tinderbox, Brew York Tonkoko and lunch with A&A.
