Spring Weekend 2024, 10-17th May
The club originally planned to travel to Harris again after a ten-year absence but a lack of suitable accommodation meant that Harris’s loss became the Lake District’s gain.
No less than 25 members made the journey to Borrowdale on Friday the 10th May for what was to be another very successful club ‘weekend’ (7 days for most)
The most popular form of accommodation was self-catering when groups of up to 7 rented houses together others chose to camp (wheeled variety) or to stay in hotels and hostels.
The first evening of all the club’s away weekends is always to meet to discuss and agree the ‘groups and routes’ for the following day(s). The groups took to the hills on the Saturday then gathered again for the traditional meal that evening.
Members were very lucky to have identified the Borrowdale Hotel for both of the initial social gatherings. Located in the heart of Borrowdale it proved to be an excellent choice, the owners were very accommodating, the food excellent and both the hotel and surrounding gardens proved to be an ideal meeting place for a group of hungry, thirsty and sometimes noisy hillwalkers. Highly recommended. One member summarised the Lake District trip as follows: -
‘The Lake District sparkled in the sunshine, and, while we were lucky to enjoy beautiful weather it may never recover from the group’s laughter and antics! ‘We conquered many Wainwrights, and, as usual, the older members of our group trail blazed and gave us all much to aspire to. The uphill climbs were steep and steady. The downhills were treacherous and long, but we did them! There were dinners in and out, rowing to remote islands, and a bottle or two of wine consumed! There were also buses taken and missed. Some of us camped, some used Airbnbs, some hotels, but all had a fantastic time and forged closer bonds coming away with stronger hearts and legs.’
An annual cycle event involving 2,500 pedalers passed through Borrowdale on the Sunday, part of a 100mile + route that involved all of the 6 major high road passes, everyone enjoyed seeing them pass by and felt more than a bit tired for them!
It would take far too much script to cover details of each and every route walked and activity enjoyed during the week’s stay but here is a list that covers most of them:
High Spy, Cat Bells, the beautiful hamlet of Watendlath, Glaramara, Ashness Bridge, Melbreck, various sections of the Cumbrian Way, Helvellyn from Thirlmere, Green Gable, Great Gable, Castle Crag, Honister Slate Mine, Buttermere, and finally an unforgettable and fun packed excursion to an island on Derwent Water aboard rowing boats.
With the noticeable exception of the Sunday, the weather was generally very good with suncream often applied! Sunday saw the arrival of a forecasted but very dramatic thunderstorm with heavy rain, it was particularly exciting for one couple who were in their campervan on a site in Stonethwaite, a lightning strike hit the adjacent field!
The final social event took place at one of the group rented houses on the Wednesday when everyone enjoyed plenty of food, craic and liquid refreshment, there being a bus stop for the return journey just outside the house!
