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Spring 1999 - Lake District (Thirlmere, Butharlyp How x 3)
Thursday 10th June.
Travel day we all went up in-groups meeting at Thirlmere hostel in the evening.
Dick Grundy, Paul Keech, Jack Ralph and Phil Chaeney made up one party. Graham Busch, Dick Mckay, Ian Cousins, and Simon Franklin an other.
Alan Wilson, Pat Jennings and Pete Tompson another. John Stopani met us at the hostel driving there direct. Andy Capp went up on the train and was picked up at the White Swan by Dick Grundy and then back to the Thirlspot Inn where the rest were having an evening meal. Andy stayed there for the night, as there was no room in the hostel.
Dick, Paul, Jack and Phil left Luton at 06:30 and arrived at Thirlmere hostel at 10:30. An uneventful journey until when in traffic in Ambleside a terrific screeching noise was heard, like a car skidding. All looked round and braced themselves for impact, none came, and it was only a low flying jet. After stretching their legs and watering the horse a loosening up walk was undertaken the route was as follows: -
Thirlmere hostel to Naddle Fell above St John's in the Vale taking in Wren Crag (1020 Ft), High Rigg (1125 Ft), Naddle Fell (1171 Ft). All along the walk there were great views of Skiddaw and Blencathra. On the way back refreshments were taken at Low Bridge farm before moving on to lunch at the Thirlspot Inn. After lunch we walked back along the Eastern Shore of Thirlmere to the hostel where we met the others.
Dick McKay, Ian, Graham and Simon after a couple of stops on an uneventful journey stopped at the Traveller's Rest Inn Grasmere for lunch. Their loosener walk was up Great Tongue to Seat Sandal, Fair field, Great Rigg and Stone Arthur then back to the car and then the hostel. A pleasant opener for all but Simon as will be revealed later.
All met at the hostel after ablutions we all went to the Thirlspot Inn for evening meal and sustenance then back to the hostel. The weather had been fine, dry, and sunny.
Friday 11th June - Thirlmere to Grasmere
The weather was fine no rain forecasted but some low cloud over the high peaks. As usual we split into groups for our walks for the day.
Group 1: Dick Mckay, Ian, Paul, Graham and Andy. Their route was to the right of Castle Rock, Watson's Dodd, Stybarrow Dodd, Sticks Pass, Raise, White Side, Lower Man, Helvellyn, Nethermost Pike, High Crag, Dollywagon Pike, Seat Sandal across to the edge of Great Tongue, then down to the Traveller's Rest where they met Norman. Dick, Ian and Graham left Andy and Paul at Helvellyn to go back and get their car going back via the Thirlspot Inn.
Group 2: Dick Grundy, Jack and Phil left the hostel going straight up to Sticks Pass (very steep), and as Group 1 to Helvellyn. Then back down to the Thirlspot Inn and the car, a decision that was regretted as the walk down from Helvellyn was worse than going up. They probably would have been better going on.
Group 3: Alan, Pat, Simon, Pete and John took an alternative route around the western edge of Thirlmere. What was deemed to be an easier route proved more difficult than originally thought not helped by Pat and his map reading skills!! A late lunch being taken at the Traveller's Rest. Rolland arrived by car at the pub while some were still there at teatime.
Highlights of the days walking tadpoles sighted in peat bogs near Raise, Dick Grundy rescued a sheep that got stuck on its back the only thanks received was a bleat. Lowlights; all who went over the top got attacked by midges near Raise.
The evening's entertainment started with dinner at the Travellers Rest, after a good meal and we moved into another bar for some light refreshment. Whilst sitting there a lady mistook the gents for the ladies, there were 15 offers of help, also Pete did not have a spoon so raised his plate to his mouth to enjoy his gravy as he did so some more people came into the bar much to his embarrassment. Later we moved back into Grasmere for more light refreshment. 1st stop was the Lambs where Ian chatted to a ewe but left before he was fleeced then on to Tweedies.
When we got back to the hostel we had to avoid the Black Country Ramblers on trips to the toilets they were worse than school kids (60+) Ian was doing his sheepdog bit again sorting out the ewe's.
Saturday 12th June.
Weather was fine but varied cloud cover. Again various groups walks as follows:
Group 1: Dick G, Roland, Simon, John, Alan, Pat and Pete all drove to Seathwaite to walk up Scafell Pike via Styhead Gill, Sty Head, Corridor Route then up to the summit. Views on the way up had been good being able to see WastWater, Sellafield and Morecambe Bay but when we reached the summit cloud descended and it was difficult at times to make the path out. The climb up had been steady but much easier than Helvellyn and uneventful apart for Simon who suffers with heights and had to be encouraged a couple of times! After a brief stop during which the cloud lifted temporarily to reveal the views that were eluding us again closing in as we started to make our way down, initially taking the wrong direction soon realising our mistake we retraced our steps to get on track, as we progressed we came to a section where we had to drop down into a saddle and climb back up, Simon took one look at this and said "I'm not going down there". With a degree of bullying and coercion we managed to get him over that section, its a good job the cloud was low at that time. The rest of the journey via Esk Hause, Sty Head, Styhead Gill to the cars was uneventful. There were good views as we got under the clouds but Alan and Roland were lagging behind. Alan saying that those who could not wait for him could walk to get refreshment at the Scafell Hotel, Rosthwaite, in the climbers bar, but in the end relented so all had a quick one before returning to the hostel.
Group 2: Dick Mckay, Ian. Graham, Paul and Andy went up Easedale; Dick went via Easedale Tarn and on to Pavey Ark via Jajes Rake. Andy went up Sergent Man and on to Pavey Ark, the others to Easedale Tarn, Tarn Crag, Sergant Man, down Blea Rigg to Silver How and down into Wainwrights for a quick one, then onto The Britania Inn at Elterwater for lunch. After lunch they went back to Grasmere via Red Bank to the hostel.
Group 3: Jack, Norman, Phil all wanted an easy walk so they went to Ambleside via Dove Cottage Rydal Water into Ambleside for lunch then back in the afternoon along the other side of Rydal water and Grasmere.
Evening meal was taken either at the hostel or Travellers Rest then all meeting up at Lambs. Again Ian was doing his sheepdog bit with the ewes. Then on to Tweedies.
Sunday 13th June.
Group 1: Andy, Graham, Paul, Ian drove to Hartsop then walked up to Hartsop Dodd, Stony Cove, Threathwaite Mouth, Thornythwaite Crag, High Street, Mardale Ill Bell back to Thornythwaite Crag, Gray Crag and back to Hartsop and the car. Dick Mckay started out with the others but had a fall at Stony Cove, so he went to Pike How, St Raven's Edge to the Kirkstone Pass Inn and then to the Brothers Water Inn to meet the others after there walk. Apart from Dick's mishap it had been a good walk. They had been good Samaritans by helping a lost American coast to coast walker get back on course.
Group 2: Roland, Alan, Pete, Simon, Pat and John went to Ambleside via Grasmere Lake, Loughrigg Terrace, the Caves, Rydal Hall, and into Ambleside for stopping at the Badger Bar for coffee (no beer as it was not open yet), carrying on they made to the Golden Lion, for one moving on to the Unicorn where a friendly Landlady who originally came from Luton entertained them!
During the walk Roland had removed his boots as a small blister had developed when a Helpful German Frau advised him he needed some lamb's wool in his boots Roland thanked the Frau "in his usual courteous manner". After lunch the local bus service was road tested.
Group 3: Dick G, Jack and Phil went for an easier day as Jack and Phil was going to a concert in Rydal Hall later. Their route was to Ambleside via Dove Cottage, Nab Cottage, Rydal Hall, into Ambleside were Phil got some money and Dick some lunch then on to the Britannia Inn at Elterwater via Brow Head, Ivy Crag, Loughrigg Tarn to the Britannia Inn. Just after we arrived it started to rain so we were forced inside, several drinks ensued whilst waiting for the rain to stop. Jack changed chairs and promptly fell asleep, when the Landlady came past she gave him a questioning look but we explained he was harmless and we would take care of him. As it stopped raining we left the Inn and started to walk back to Grasmere via Red Bank, at the top of Red Bank Jack and Phil went to Rydal Hall for their concert and Dick back to Grasmere and the hostel.
After dinner we all met in town for some light refreshment in the usual watering holes.
Monday 14th June.
Travel day the weather was not very good, fine but low cloud. Most people decided to go straight home however Dick G, Paul, Jack, Phil, Roland and Andy walked to Ambleside via Grasmere, up to the summit of Loughrigg, then across to Ivy Crag, Brow Head and down into Ambleside where some shopping was done and lunch consumed. Dick and Paul went back to the hostel on the bus to get the car. When they returned Andy had already left to walk to Windermere to get the train. We stopped at the Water Mill Inn at Ings, a pub with many real ales, well worth another visit. Andy got to the station in plenty of time having a good walk in pleasant weather from Ambleside.
Roland stayed up in the lakes and was met by Alison. He had arranged to meet Norman and go for an evening meal with him but when he finally got to the Ennerdale hostel Norman was sitting down eating his dinner. Roland and Alison had to wait for Norman to finish before going to the pub for a meal, they just made it. Norman got out of doing the washing up.
Norman only had another 15 miles to the finish of the coast to coast walk at St Bees and the train home.
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