Meet Report: 31 March-2 April 2023.

Following a wet week in The Lakes and with a mixed weather forecast promising both good and bad conditions, twenty YRC members travelled up to Glenridding, on the lower western side of Ullswater, with hope in their hearts and the promise of a sociable meet in Rod and Yayoi’s capable hands. The venue, the Bury Jubilee Hut, found after a walk/drive up into the old Greenside Mine complex, was pleasingly spacious and well equipped – the dormitories each had their own ensuite bathroom! What luxury – shame about the noisy extraction fans….. Arriving over the course of Friday afternoon/evening, we all settled in, found a bunk in one of the spacious dormitories and spent time catching-up on news or planning the next day’s activities. Alan Hinkes popped in briefly for a chat and the log burner proved invaluable, with an electronic thermostat for the heating that needed a PIN to change the temperature – a number that eluded us all!

After the usual first night blues (snoring – what snoring?), Saturday dawned grey and dull with full cloud cover on the tops and a forecast that hinted at better things ….maybe. Fuelled up thanks to Rod & Yayoi, various groups headed out to enjoy the day.

Carol and John Whalley, accompanied by PM John Thurston took the miners zig zag track above the hut, under more promising skies, to reach the desolate footbridge amongst the upper Greenside mine workings. From there they reached Nick Head with its wonderful views over the glacially sculptured Glencoyne Valley. Harried by icy winds and a short period of hail, they descended Bleabank Side and headed for the Travellers’ Rest pub, returning (staggering?) up the track back to the hut, rejecting Alan Hinkes’ offer of a lift because, as Carol reported, ‘we’re ‘ard’!

Meanwhile, a little ahead of Carol’s party, Steve and Wendy Richards, Robert and Michael Crowther, accompanied by guest Robbie Marram, had taken the same route up to Nick Head, before traversing the aptly named Miners’ Balcony Path under Glencoyne Head (highly recommended). Branching north they squelched through some sopping conditions underfoot, passing through the hamlet of Dowthwaitehead before finding the path back towards the Dodds at Grovebeck Fold. With lowering clouds, a biting wind chill, rain, hail and exposed terrain, the group continued to press on with minimal stops over Great Dodd, Watson’s Dodd and Stybarrow Dodd – much to the dismay of Robert’s stomach! With obvious dissent in the ranks, Steve finally picked a lunch stop in the shelter of the upper Greenside Mine workings – a well deserved brew. After a test of Robert’s knowledge passing back through the scrub juniper and gorse, the group were pleased to return to the hut and find the thermostat riddle finally solved!

Meanwhile, Fiona Booker-Smith completed a run all the way around Ullswater – a very respectable 38km effort. Fe reported some sunshine and commented on the benefits of pork pie and a Yorkie Bar during a quick pit-stop at Pooley Bridge…..

Determined to get some scrambling in, Richard Smith, Chris Hilton and Dave Booker-Smith headed up into Grisedale. Dave took in the summit of St Sunday Crag, whilst Rik and Chris ascended the fine grade III (***) scramble of Pinnacle Ridge. Joining back up the trio routed via Grisedale Tarn up to Dollywaggon Pike, across Nethermost Pike and summited Helvellyn in the cloud. A descent back to the hut completed the day.

Back in Grisedale, Conrad Tetley, Bev Eastwood and Mick Borroff arrived at the old Eagle Crag quarry after a delightful traverse from the hut. As a novice to scrambling, Bev roped up and Conrad led up the Eagle Crag scramble, a grade II (*) route. With encouragement from Mick, Bev completed her first scramble in good style, before they all continued up Nethermost Pike East Ridge – a less frequented gem of an ascent, described by Wainwright as ‘a first-class route…steep and exciting, finishing with an arête like a miniature Striding Edge’. Following a cloudy ascent to the summit of Helvellyn, they descended via Swirral Edge – not to be underestimated in cold and wet conditions. A descent back to the hut saw all three back in time for a hot shower and a beer by the stove, swapping tales of derring-do with the rest of us.

Also on the Dodds was Harvey Lomas, who came up Sticks Pass, turned south to top out on Raise then retraced his steps to head north onto Stybarrow Dodd. With the cold and gloomy conditions showing no signs of easing, Harvey descended back to the hut via Sticks Pass.

Loyal to their customers, Rod and Yayoi contented themselves with a walk down to Glenridding, making final purchases for the evening’s coming feast. Having walked back up, both were soon turning their hand to the preparation of the evening meal.

Finally, on enquiring of Alan Clare what he and John Jenkin had done for the day, I was informed that they ‘had a fossick about’ – further details were not forthcoming! A trusty Concise Oxford Dictionary reveals that this phrase describes one ‘rummaging or searching’ and ‘looking for gold etc in abandoned workings’! Very apt and plausible, with thanks to Alan for the education, though, in true Yorkshire fashion, whether any gold was discovered was not revealed. Not even Alan Hinkes, who again dropped in for a chat, could squeeze the facts out of his namesake!

Refreshed and warmed up with tea, beer and wine (in some cases all three…), all were looking forward to dinner. Rod and Yayoi did not disappoint, serving up a memorable feast, aptly described by Carol as ‘probably the best we’ve ever had on a YRC meet’. After Parma Ham and Melon, Rod and Yayoi served up slow roast pork with apple sauce, delicious stuffing, gravy, roast potatoes and veg, all perfectly cooked. Completely spoilt, second helpings were not to be turned down and Chris H proved that there was no limit to the amount of crackling that one might devour – just reward for earlier efforts on Pinnacle Ridge. Cheesecakes finished us all off and after many hands turned round the dishes there was plenty to discuss around the stove. With the heating now performing, it wasn’t long before heavy eyelids led to the bunk beds, in somewhat warmer climes to the night before, with dreams of better weather the next day. Top marks Rod and Yayoi!

Sunday dawned just as gloomy outside as Saturday, but a promise of a midday improvement meant that all was not lost. Rod and Yayoi’s final culinary efforts happily augmented breakfast with bacon butties and shortly after, many hands moved to clean, tidy and prepare the hut for the next visitors. With long drives and other commitments, several members began their travels home with, for some, a little local exploration on the way.

Ever the early-bird, Rik set off with Dave and Fe to get up to High Street, parking at Hartsop and ascending via Hayeswater. The weather stayed dry but cloud obscured the upper levels and Fe reported ‘patchy’ views from the top. Finally the weather cleared as the group descended via Threshthwaite Cove into warm sunshine and rapidly clearing blue skies – a great finish down Pasture Beck to Hartsop.

Chris and Mick set off with the familiar delights of Sharp Edge on Blencathra in mind, but the cloud-shrouded summit persuaded them to try a scramble at a lower level. As Chris had never been there before, they headed over to little-known Swindale for a shortish walk down to Mosedale Force past plenty of drumlins. This has an entertaining scramble up and along the stream side rocks past waterfalls and cascades, with some deep pools to bypass which Mick last did with Derek Bush some year ago. Unfortunately the water was too high to cross the beck to link up the sections of clean rock and the wet sections they tried were extremely slippery. They thus retreated and enjoyed the return walk along the opposite side of the dale back to the stepping stones at Truss Gap.

Steve and Wendy decided that a long walk was in order and anticipating the midday clearance, traversed across the foot of Grisedale and around to Patterdale, stopping to watch red squirrels running riot in the pine trees of Thornhow End. They then followed the east side of the valley up to Hartsop, arriving as the sun made itself known and the weather improved.

Pushing on up Pasture Bottom they briefly met with Fe, Dave and Rich on the lower slopes of Threshthwaite Cove, before reaching Thornthwaite Beacon via Threshthwaite Mouth. It had turned into a stunning day – a cool breeze with excellent visibility under a warm sun and increasingly cloudless skies.

After a quick lunch and egged on by the weather and broad back of High Street, the duo pressed north over Racecourse Hill to the little-visited Kidsty Pike and dramatic views down to Haweswater. After traversing High Raise a gentle descent took them, reluctantly, to a downward escape track alongside Martindale – one of The Lakes’ less visited but beautiful valleys. It was then a matter of linking-up various scenic paths to finally join the eastern shores of Ullswater and the final trudge back up the track out of Glenridding to Greenside and a now lonely car outside the hut. A classic Lakeland day to remember – all 23 miles of it!

Thanks to Rod and Yayoi for their wonderful efforts – both organisationally and culinary. A very sociable meet, despite some ‘iffy’ weather, and some notable achievements from everyone, to include a bit of fossicking about!

Steve Richards

Attendees: Steve & Wendy Richards, Conrad Tetley, Bev Eastwood, Richard Smith, Fe & Dave Booker-Smith, Michael Crowther, Robert Crowther, Robbie Marram (guest), Mick Borroff, Carol & John Whalley, John Thurston (PM), Rod & Yayoi Smith, John Jenkin, Chris Hilton, Harvey Lomas and Alan Clare, with fleeting visits by Alan Hinkes.