Adventure Plans
Blea Water Overnight via Ambleside, Kentmere, and High Street
A two-day overnight linking lower paths near Ambleside with a camp at Blea Water and a return over High Street. Across both days, the route covered 41.17 km with 3020.0 m of ascent.
Quick Summary
We started in cooler cloud on the lower paths near Ambleside, then headed on through Kentmere as the day brightened before camping at Blea Water. After a gusty night, we woke to a clear morning, climbed up to High Street for breakfast, and finished with a big second day on tired legs.
Day 1
The first day had a gentler feel at the start, with the low paths around Ambleside giving us time to settle in before the route built properly. The cloud cover helped early on, keeping the temperature down while we moved through the first part of the day.
By the time we reached Kentmere, most of that cloud had lifted and it felt much brighter. From there, the overnight really started to feel like it had some shape to it, with the camp at Blea Water giving the day a clear target rather than just another long walk.
Day 2
The night was gusty, so it was a relief to wake up to a beautiful morning. Even so, the day got straight to work with a tough climb up onto High Street, where we stopped for breakfast.
That early climb set the tone for the rest of the day. The weather sounded far kinder than the night before, and being up high in the morning light was one of the standout parts of the trip. It still felt like a serious second day rather than an easy walk out, but that was part of what made the overnight feel worthwhile.
Highlights and Learnings
A few things stood out across the two days:
- Starting under cloud made the first day more comfortable than it might have been in full sun.
- Blea Water made a strong camp spot and gave the trip a clear midpoint.
- A gusty night can make the morning feel even better when the weather turns.
- Stopping for breakfast on High Street was a simple highlight and a good reminder not to rush straight through the best parts of a route.
The main lesson was that this was a proper two-day outing, not just a long walk split in half. The second day still asked plenty, so it paid to keep something in reserve on day one.