Meet Report: 6-8 June 2023 at the FRCC’s Birkness Coach House Cottage.

Given the considerable number of retired members in the Club, Rod Smith suggested the idea of a running a midweek meet to the Meets Committee who thought the idea had merit: quieter fells, fewer congested roads, easy parking and the possibility to book into one of the smaller kindred club huts.

Early in flaming June was chosen and the FRCC’s Birkness Coach House cottage was booked, just a stone’s throw from the shore of Buttermere. For a change the weather played ball with the Portugal meet weather genie let out of its bottle and the select group of four attendees enjoyed a superb meet, bookended with additional days on the hill in the glorious sunshine. We discussed the possible reasons for the small turnout and agreed it would help if the next midweek meet was included in the formal meets calendar to get it into people’s diaries.

En route crossing west of the M6 on Tuesday and leaving the cloud bank over the Pennines behind, Mick couldn’t resist the sunlight picking out Sharp Edge on Blencathra and headed to Bowscale to park in the layby. A couple of walkers were met beside the Glendermackin river and a few more up by Angle Tarn where there were also a small party of wild swimmers. However, Sharp Edge had not a soul on it and was most enjoyable. A few more walkers enjoying the weather were encountered on the traverse from Blencathra over Atkinson Pike and Bowscale Fell to complete a lovely day under blue skies.

Michael meanwhile parked at Rosthwaite, traversed Glaramara then Allen Crags to Sprinkling and Styhead Tarns.  Return was via Stockley Bridge and Thorneythwaite Farm.  That only left a drive over Honister Pass to reach Birkness in time for a splendid dinner prepared by Rod and Yayoi with olives and snacks, followed by wild garlic soup, beef in ale pie, strawberry cheesecake, then cheese and crackers, all paired with a fine tempranillo.

In the morning a mouse made an appearance at breakfast and after posing for a photo, swiftly climbed into the toaster which saved us the job of having to catch it and Mick released it back into the woods.

Rod was attending a meeting of the Mountain Heritage Trust trustees, so fortified with a continental breakfast and bacon rolls, Yayoi, Michael and Mick set off from the Coach House and walked towards Buttermere village bound for the summits on the south side. All climbed up to Bleaberry Tarn and High Stile via its scrambly NE ridge, then on to High Crag. Yayoi and Michael descended to Gatesgarth Farm while Mick continued over Haystacks, and Fleetwith Pike via the Dubs Hut. A large group of people and a guide bedecked in via ferrata kit were met at Black Star where one of the Honister Slate Mine via ferratas terminates.  On the descent a group of wild swimmers could be seen at the so-called Buttermere Infinity Pool in Warnscale Beck made popular recently on social media. Lower down the path, two Spanish visitors asked him if they were on the correct path to it.

Dinner was enjoyed at the excellent Kirkstile Inn nestling under Mellbreak at Loweswater where the food, ambience and craft beers brewed on the premises can be warmly recommended.

Having usually ascended the hills of the Coledale round from the east, Mick decided on a different approach from the empty Cinderdale Common car park beside Crummock Water. A few walkers were encountered on the route up the Lad Hows path to Grasmoor and then over Sand Hill to Hopegill Head – all enjoying the warm weather.  The return was made via the Hope Gill path below Ladyside Pike (where a sweating MTB enthusiast was carrying his electric bike on his shoulder up the same route), then by contouring south around the fell and the waterside path.

Michael, Yayoi and Rod parked at Newlands Hause to ascend Knott Rigg for good views of yesterday’s routes. Rod and Yayoi had to head home but Michael continued over Ard Crags to Little Town to cross Robinson and descend by Moss Force. Later days were spent in Langdale and Coniston.

This was an excellent and well-organised meet and all participants hope that a repeat midweek event next year will garner greater support.

Attendees: Mick Borroff, Michael Smith, Rod and Yayoi Smith (joint organisers).