PANORAMA - GREAT HOW Traditional Geocache
THE SMILEYS: Site no longer suitable.
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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Short, steep climb.
About 25 yards from the eastern end of the dam a path goes up steps to the right and into the woods. Follow the woodland path above Thirlmere for just over a quarter of a mile and follow it as it trends upwards to the left away from the lake. After a further 200 yards or so a crossroads is reached in a clearing. Turn sharply left on a path which climbs steeply north. At first the path is a broad forest track but after a few hundred yards it ends and a sign marks the start of a much narrower path which climbs steeply to the right - follow this path to the summit cairn - The Patterson Cairn (because that was the name of the chap from Fornside who laid the first stones).
The conifers of this ‘wooded hill’ used to reach above the summit and, apart from a slight thinning of the trees to the west, the summit views were disappointing - however, since they have cleared the top a new summit has arisen to challenge the old establishment viewpoint. Great How is not a "Wainwright" although it is about 1100 feet high. Possibly, access was restricted when the great man wrote his books - possibly he just forgot about it - who knows?
Descend on the same path as you used to the summit but about 50 yards down the path, as it makes a sharp bend to the right, look for a track to the left heading south to a viewpoint perched high above Thirlmere and magnificent views south along the lake. There is a seat here and the spot certainly merits a lengthy pause to take in the view. Leave the viewpoint by the same track and rejoin the main descent track back to the clearing. Once the clearing is reached take the track to the left to complete an anticlockwise circuit of the fell.
As you pass through the clearing you can see the new plantations of indigenous trees, now a common sight around Thirlmere.
The best views of all are near sunset or in the early morning as the sun rises over Helvellyn. Navigation and weather conditions will pose no problems at any time of the year.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Lbh'er cebonoyl fvggvat ba vg
!