Spring in the Lakes

Well, a fortnight's trip to the Lakes has been and gone far too quickly. We had a fabulous time, even if it didn't go quite as we planned. The weather was utterly amazing and we spent a fair amount of it in T-shirts, but then had a fall of snow on the last but one day, which made everything look magical.

We did beautiful Catstye Cam from Glenridding village whilst staying in the gorgeous Glenridding Hotel, which finished the Far Eastern fells for us as well as the whole ridge from Clough Head to Dollwaggon Pike. We took a steamer from Glenridding to Howtown and walked the length of pretty Fusedale up to Whether Hill which was a mopping up exercise as we'd done the rest of the ridge going back towards Pooley Bridge in a huge smog cloud a few years ago and, having walked 10 miles, didn't much fancy carrying on as it was irritating our chests and eyes. This completed the High Street ridge for us.

We did a big walk up the nose of Gray Crag from Hartsop, along the top of the glorious ridge to Thornthwaite Crag (another mop up from our High Street/Mardale Ill Bell day with a young dog we didn't want to push too far) and on to Froswick which was beautiful. We then went back up to Thornthwaite Crag and down Threshthwaite Mouth and along the Pasture Beck valley, but the next day Bro's knee swelled and he was laid up for a few days at the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel. I spent some time exploring; I went into Mickleden, up to Blea Tarn and Oak Howe which was all really lovely.

Our time in our favourite Buttermere was superb. We’re not very good at relaxing, but the weather was stunning, the views sublime and we were staying at the Fish Inn which was very comfortable and friendly. Bro’s knee improved to such an extent that we could walk to and and sit by Buttermere and Crummock, taking photos, paddling, reading, brewing coffee and enjoying the peace and quiet. There was no mobile signal, no wifi and no television, so we read lots, slept 10 hours a night and ate well. It was just what we needed without realising we needed it.

We then moved to a rented cottage in Keswick with the most fabulous panorama of the northern fells from the back bedroom window. We enjoyed some lovely gentle walks in the area; a gorgeous one around Crosthwaithe Parish Church, another round Derwent Water, round the pretty village of Braithwaite, explored Keswick and also in Whinlatter Forest watching the amazing bird life from the comfort and warmth of the cafe.

So, while Bro couldn't really do any of the higher fells, he experimented with camera settings and the drone while I re-climbed Castle Crag, right up the hated slate pile this time that had slightly scared me twice before, meaning I didn’t go right to the very top. Bro decided on the last day he wanted to climb something small, as we’d be in the car for five hours the following day, so we climbed Rannerdale Knotts, an old favourite. His knee held up and he was able to manage the walk quite easily.

At home, he’s undergoing an intensive round of physio and a full recovery is looking promising.

BUTTERMERE valley from rannerdale knotts

So, we have 46 more Wainwright fells to climb to complete the challenge, which feels achievable before we both get too old and decrepit. I say both; I was on fire.......

Outdoor Ramblings

‘The greatest adventure is what lies ahead’