Present: Richard S (organiser), Martin B, Olga, Martin L, Pam, Paula, Sarah, Bruce
Location: Wythmoor Farm camping barn, near Kendal
For once, the weather forecast for a weekend was actually looking reasonable, and those who were in the Lakes early on Friday were able to take advantage of the barn’s BBQ area and the gentle sounds of the countryside (underpinned by the muted roar of the M6 in the distance). By the time everyone else made their way down confusing country lanes in the dark, however, the thunderstorm had kicked in and we were quite grateful for the comfy sofas (yes, really) in the very well-appointed barn.
Saturday dawned cloudy, and as our planned walk for the day progressed, we were able to determine the exact level of the cloud base: every time we passed 700m to bag a peak during the morning, we lost any chance of a decent view. The walk was the classic Kentmere Horseshoe in a clockwise direction, a route that (as suggested) starts and ends in the small village of Kentmere and takes in the peaks of Yoke (706m), Ill Bell (757m), Froswick (720m), Thornthwaite Crag (784m), Mardale Ill Bell (760m), Harter Fell (778m) and Kentmere Pike (730m). We detoured (deliberately!) after Thornthwaite to bag High Street (828m), which is where the sun first started to struggle through: by the time we reached Nan Bield Pass the weather had improved considerably and we had excellent views of Haweswater. The final descent from Kentmere Pike to Green Quarter via Sadgill was very warm and on the arduous side, and we were all very glad of a pint in Staveley on the way back to the barn.
 A quick location check. (Sarah) |
 Ill Bell, with lack of view. (Sarah) |
 Sunshine at Cautley Spout. (Bruce) |
On Saturday evening the weather stayed fine, and everyone cooked BBQ food and drank extremely cold beer and wine (thanks to a kitchen sink full of ice, acquired from the supermarket in Kendal). For the first time this year, there was no need for down jackets when sitting outside until midnight. Nobody stayed up too late as we were all tired after the walk, and Martin B’s snoring then rocked the barn’s rafters in the small hours of the morning.
On Sunday, which was an even warmer day, the group dispersed to various different activities. Martin and Pam, who were staying in the Lakes for an extra few days, set off further into the Lakes for a walk. Bruce, Sarah and Paula crossed the M6 to the Howgills and another attempt on Cautley Spout, which was a lot less windy than May.
Sarah Davies
