14th May 2023

 

Dear All,

12 days in Moldova, 2 days at home then a week in the Lake District was not ideal planning but that is how it worked out. One of our walking group is a keen HF Holiday enthusiast and arranged to take over the whole hostel at Derwent Bank and filled it with 60 members of the Tuesday and Thursday U3A groups. It was Kate and my first experience of HF and we were very impressed with the organisation, leaders, accommodation and food. The house was right on the shore of Derwent Water and three walks of different lengths and difficulty were arranged each day, led by knowledgeable volunteers. The only slight downside was that we were on the top floor and 51 steps after a long walk was a good way to finish us off!

We opted for the middle walk on the first day which tackled the summits of Outside and Barrow. It was 9 miles with tough ascents and one of our friends Ian fainted and fell backwards cracking his head on a rock and bled profusely. Kate was nearest to him and while tending him received several splodges of blood on her smart anorak. The leader Steve, dealt with the situation very professionally but we had to get Ian down to the road and arrange for a taxi to take him to hospital to be checked over – as this was exactly the time of the Coronation the taxi took some time to arrive, so it added 90 minutes to our jaunt. I have never really subscribed to the opinion that ”coming down is worse than climbing up” but in this case the long descent from Barrow was a severe test for everyone’s knees. In all we were out for 8 hours so an exacting test on our first day, but magnificent views.

 

 

Newlands Valley

 

 

Ascent to Outside

 

“Brought wit is cheapest!” so we opted for walk 1 for the rest of the week. The next walk followed the shoreline of Derwent Water to Rosthwaite including a climb up to Millican Dalton’s cave. Dalton returned from WWI rather affected and lived in this remote cave for a while. The route gave excellent views of the lake and was not nearly so demanding.

 

 

Derwent Water

 

 

Borrowdale

 

Monday was a free day and a bit overcast. Six of us caught a boat which zig zagged up the lake and got off at the far end to explore the Ladore Falls then climbed up to Ashness Bridge. We had a little drizzle but nothing serious.

 

 

Derwent Water from Ladore

 

 

Ashness Bridge

 

On Tuesday we headed for the Whinlatter Forest trails opposite Skiddaw and enjoyed end to end sunshine and again spectacular views.

 

 

View from Spring bank towards Skiddaw

 

 

View towards Bassenthwaite Lake

 

On Wednesday we were the other side of the valley in the foothills of Skiddaw. While the group 3 climbed to the summit of Skiddaw, disappointedly hidden in cloud, we scaled the smaller peak of Latrigg with a very civilised gentle ascent. But excellent views of Keswick and Derwent Water. Returning to Keswick we had time to visit the Pencil Museum – surely the high point of any outing!

 

 

Latrigg

 

 

Keswick Pencil Museum

 

For our last walk we caught a bus to Ullswater and walked most of the length of the lake enjoying our only shower of the week. The weather really was kind to us as on our return to Over the rain gauge read 53 mm! We climbed to the top of Aire Falls.

 

 

Ullswater

 

 

Lyulph’s Tower above Ullswater

 

We arrived home 1.40pm Friday amazed at the growth in the garden during the week away and found the goldfish swimming in the grass surrounding the over flowed pond. Kate did not feel well and is still struggling with a temperature, aches and pains but has tested -ve for Covid.

Love

Mike & Kate