Beda Fell (Beda Head)

Beda Fell runs for about two and a half miles, from Angletarn Pikes north to the valley floor near Sandwick, and separates Boredale from Bannerdale in the Martindale valleys. Its summit, Beda Head, is a grassy mound with a few stones on a rock for a cairn. The ridge is broad enough to hide the valleys on either side, but you look out to Ullswater on both sides of Hallin Fell, across to Place Fell, and over to Bonscale Pike, Arthur's Pike, The Nab and Rest Dodd.

Walk Lakes starts its round from Martindale Hause, where there are two small laybys above the zigzags opposite St Peter's church. Parking down by the old church gets in the way of the farm, so leave it clear. From the hause drop into Martindale, pass St Martin's old church, cross Howgrain Beck and look for a stone pointing to Sandwick. A path climbs above a walled enclosure to the ridge, where a metal bench looks down the valley. Then turn south over the knolls of Winter Crag, through a few boggy dips, to Beda Head. The whole round is about 6 km with under 400 m of ascent. A couple of rocky steps need a hand, and you may meet cattle.

If you don't want to drive the narrow road, the Ullswater steamer lands at Howtown pier, and a terraced path round Hallin Fell leads into Martindale.

From Patterdale, climb to Boredale Hause and follow the ridge path round the head of Boredale. A bridleway from Patterdale crosses the ridge near Bedafell Knott. A good linear day continues over Angletarn Pikes to Patterdale, with the steamer from Glenridding to take you back to Howtown.