Meet Report: 6-8 May 2022.

The Fylde MC’s Stair Cottage is just outside the peaceful hamlet of Stair in one of the few quiet corners of the Lake District. It proved ideal for our purposes.

Attending:

Barbara Salmon, Arthur Salmon, Conrad Tetley, Beverley Eastwood, Mick Borroff, Tim Josephy, Helen Brewitt, Helen Smith, Michael Smith, Christine Harrison, Jim Harrison, Carol Whalley, John Whalley, Rod Smith, Yayoi Smith, Richard Smith, Felicity Roberts, Peter Elliott, Ged Campion, Norman Wilkinson (PM).

The following is a selection of individual accounts.

On Saturday Barbara and Arthur joined up with Carol and John. We took the car to Little Town and parked the car in the farm there; five pounds for the day. From there we went up the track towards Hause Gate, but swung off to the north to Catbells, very crowded up there but views excellent. Then we turned back on ourselves and went to Hause Gate and up to Bull Crag on Maiden Moor, where we stopped for lunch before carrying on to High Spy, where we met up with the Smith family coming  the other way. When we left them we dropped down to Dalehead Tarn and then down the fairly steep descent into the upper reaches of the Newlands valley. The path here descends alongside the beck which has a quite spectacular waterfall. Lower down the path levels out and continues back to Little Town, passing on the way  a climbing hut, which is situated in excellent surroundings and  I believe belongs to the Carlisle M.C.   Before returning to base, we called in at the pub at Swinside and enjoyed a pint in the beer garden in the late afternoon sunshine.

On,Sunday, after getting the tent down and  loading the car, we made a rather late start with Bev, Conrad and Helen Brewitt. We crossed the bridge in Stair, turned left for a couple of hundred yards and then more or less went straight up the path to Rowling End , where we had lunch, and then carried on to Causey Pike and along Scar Crags to  just below the climb to Sail. As the general consensus was that we should make an early start for home, we descended from here to the valley lying to the north of Causey pike and then back to Stair. In this descent, the path cuts across a scree slope, which has some sections which would still be quite runnable! Another good, though short, day. Back at the hut, more tea was made and Mick and Peter arrived back before we finally set off for our various journeys home.

Arthur Salmon

Happy to be able to leave the car at the hut, on Saturday Mick and Peter decided to do the classic Coledale Round including Grasmoor. After a sunny start, a chilly wind ensured we kept up a brisk pace along the ridges. Walking it clockwise had the advantage of passing the Coledale Inn for refreshments, but unfortunately, the path beside Newlands Beck to Stair was closed due to severe erosion, so we returned along the lane. That left the Newlands round and Hindscarth to be walked on Sunday giving us some great views across to the peaks traversed on the previous days outing. A most enjoyable pair of walks.

Mick Borroff

Friday

After stowing personal gear, the rain had relented so we ventured out on a short circular walk via Uzzicar to Swinside and then back to the Fylde MC Hut. Some fine views, the sight of black lambs gambolling and refreshment at the Swinside Inn were the highlights. A further stroll, after dinner, towards Little Town offered splendid views of late sunlight on the hills and sighting about 5 bats swooping back and forth over our heads.

Saturday

On a beautiful morning we initially joined Rod and Yayoi Smith on their mines quest through Little Town past the Carlisle MC’s climbing hut and the disused Goldscope lead mine as far as the Castlenook mine workings. Progress was slowed By Jim Harrison’s need for frequent short breaks (a likely lads sort of injury) and birdwatching (sightings of Wheatears, chaffinch and Stonechat). Also, the hills looked a picture in the sunshine with bushes such as gorse showing up well.  At this juncture Rod and Yayoi struck out for a path which led up through mine workings to Dalehead crags and tarn. Christine and I ventured higher to near Red Crag. Christine pushed on further towards Dale Head Tarn but returned before reaching it. After lunch we retraced our steps to Stair Cottage with time for more birdwatching and deep reflection.

Sunday.

For the final day we decided to walk from Stair Cottage. It was a lovely sunny, if breezy, morning as we started our route through Little Town up to Hause Gate and then up to Cat Bells. All along the route the sunshine amplified the patchwork of colours on the hills. As we climbed there were lovely views all round whether over Derwent Water or towards Skiddaw.

We retraced our steps to Hause gate and then took a path, recommended by Helen Smith, going near to Brunt Crag and tracking above old mine workings down to Skelgill and back to Stair Cottage. We had barely started this track when we came upon a small crystal clear pond teeming with tadpoles.

N.B. NO TADPOLES WERE HARMED IN TAKING THIS PHOTO

All told a splendid short (by YRC standards) walk with much to commend it. One final challenge was to ease our way past Skelgill’s imposing guardian

Jim Harrison

Bev and Conrad set off with the Smith party to complete the Newlands Round. All was going well, and indeed too well for Beverley as she strode off in front as we approached Little Town and beyond. A little further on a decision had to be taken as to whether we followed the steady meandering path to the col or a steep angular traverse to the ridge. Helen commented that it wouldn’t be in true YRC style to take the easy option! So off the group went cutting a steady path through some well established gorse. At this point it was clear that Beverley was not comfortable so the decision was decided  to split the group so Michael, Helen, Richard and Felicity could complete the round.

After a cup of tea, a few ‘words’ and twenty minutes rest, Beverley was happy to attempt Robinson (at this point the ambition was to reach the summit and return). With some trepidation Bev scrambled up the exposed rock and then, punctuated by a few short breaks to the summit shelter. Convinced that Bev would not want to miss out on bagging her second Wainwright of the day, a strong argument was put forward along the lines of minimising the angle of ascent by using the diagonal path contouring the side of the fell. She must have been persuaded as a second wind kicked in and we were at the Hindscarth cairn in no time.

The descent down towards the Low Snab took considerably longer, however, the amazing panorama made up for any niggling scrambling worries that Bev may have had. After crossing the footbridge, we stopped for one more short tea break before meeting John and Christine Harrison at Little Town en-route to the hut. A very pleasant walk.

Conrad Tetley

Friday, on the way in Helen S and Michael walked around he Studley Royal estate just west of Ripon

Saturday: Richard, Fliss, Michael and Helen S walked the Newlands Horseshoe including Robinson and High Spy.  The chaps continued over Catbells.  On High Spy they met the Salmons and Whalleys with Barbara navigating under her father’s watchful eye.  On the descent two pairs of backpackers were met, all intending to wild camp on Dale Head. This activity has recently become much more popular.

Sunday: Rod had a yen to revisit the popular 1950s Bentley Beetham route Corvus (D***) on Raven Crag.  So, five Smiths and a Roberts drove off for Seatoller only to become wedged in some of the 2,000 cyclists on The Fred Whitton Challenge intent on crossing all six of the Lakes’ major passes in a 114-mile loop. Thankfully, this was only for the last few miles before they parked. Rod, Michael and Richard branched off for the crag as Fliss, Yayoi and Helen headed up to Glaramara.
Perhaps the cycle event put others off Borrowdale as there was nobody else on the route as Richard set off up Corvus. Rod climbed the first pitch in 1950’s gear (except for a modern harness), declared it more polished and, curiosity satisfied, left the rest to the others. Their only criticism of the route was the stink from a rotting sheep, wafted up the gully on a breeze, which encouraged speedy movement up the wall above to reach fresh air.

Monday: Helen S and Michael after staying at the George Starkey Hut made an early start to avoid forecast afternoon rain. From Brothers Water they went up Dovedale to the Priest’s Hole, over Dove Crag to a windy Little Hart Crag and down from the Scandale Pass.  The rain amounted to nothing.  Newcomers to wild camping were mentioned earlier. In the Hole someone had dumped half a pint of milk, a boxed drone flight controller with instructions and a spare battery.  Goodness knows who the pilot thought would need or remove these. Presumably, the pilot had crashed the drone and no longer needed the rest of the kit. The cave was tidied up.

Michael Smith

On Saturday Helen B and Tim made the long ascent to Grey Crag in Birkness Combe above Buttermere. It is a place well known for being quick drying and unfortunately quite a few others had the same idea. They bypassed the first planned route to save time and embarked on the excellent crack of Fortiter (MVS). (Suaviter in modo, Fortiter in re. Gently in manner, firmly in action). Helen climbed it smoothly, Tim was neither gentle nor firm, more jerky and wobbly.

The next tier holds the wonderful Oxford and Cambridge Direct (S), the final pitch of which climbs the very edge of the buttress in splendid position and on perfect rock.

The descent of the Combe seemed unaccountably longer than it had on the way up but a pint in Buttermere was all the more welcome.

Ged and Norman climbed at Bram Crag Quarry in St John’s in the Vale on Saturday then walked up Birkness Combe on Sunday to do Oxford and Cambridge Direct which they agreed was well worth the effort.

Tim Josephy

Beverley and Conrad provided the catering for the weekend and excellent it was too. Space in the common room was at a premium but despite a wobbly table no disasters occurred and all enjoyed a convivial evening.