CYHA News

Easter Essentials

There's only one problem with the Blencathra Centre, our home for the Easter weekend, and that's the proximity to the bright lights of Keswick. It's not the pubs or the tea shops and certainly not the stunning scenery, but Keswick is the world capital of outdoor shops. Any visit is bound to turn out expensive. Still on the plus side, we returned from our Easter break not only with a healthy glow but with a new jacket, rucksack, fleece and those walking poles are rather good…. and you can never have too many torches…. and how can one survive on a mountain without a novelty barbecue lighter…?

Ali

Lake District Diary

Thursday: Having spent most of the afternoon in Penrith supermarket loading both our cars almost to the roof with food, Jim and I were glad to arrive at the Blencathra Centre with time for a stroll up the valley before sunset. One of the best things about the Blancathra Centre is its excellent views across St John's Vale to the Hellvelyn range and across Derwent Water into Borrowdale, especially fine at sunset.

Friday: Most people headed towards Skiddaw and its surrounding hills. As so often happens, it was cloudy on the summit of Skiddaw, but cleared while we were walking back for another warm sunny evening.

Saturday was Blencathra day. Tom led a party up via Blease Fell; Jane and Gordon planned a gentler approach via Roughten Gill; we were all inside a cloud at the top. Lorna and Fergus set off up Blencathra in the late afternoon with the theory that the cloud would have cleared - but it didn't.

Sunday: Almost all of us headed towards Keswick and Derwent Water by a variety of routes; some taking in lake cruises, some visiting Castle Rigg Stone Circle, most visiting a selection of pubs and teashops. The route card said "Contingency in the event of deteriorating weather: Stay in pub in Keswick and get leg-less"…a plan which several of the group put into action due to some mildly inclement weather in the late afternoon, arriving back by taxi to cries of lazy b*****ds from those of us who had endured the full 3 mile walk back in the rain.

Monday: The tea-shop-ohlics took a scenic walk to Watendlathdale and Borrowdale. Lorna took John and Brigitte to Honister Hause, and sent them off on an epic walk over High Spy, Maiden Moor, Cat Bells back to Blencathra. Mike, Jim and Dave J mounted the last expedition to Blencathra, hoping for the summit view the rest of us had been denied. But alas, a cloud sat on top all day.

Tuesday: The few of us remaining, after cleaning out the hostel, went to Aira Force to climb Gowbarrow Fell for some fine views over Ullswater to round off a very enjoyable weekend.

Dave P

Lakeland Initiation

My initiation into hostelling trips with the group did not disappoint! On arrival at the Blencathra centre, and before I even had time to exclaim over the gorgeous views from the hostel itself, we set off on a gentle stroll that whetted my appetite for the next day's walk. Over the next few days I experienced several 'firsts', including fish fingers for breakfast! Somewhat nervously, and after much consultation, I decided to join the Skiddaw (abbreviated version) walk. As we climbed I couldn't help thinking that, whilst it was a shame that the spectacular views I had anticipated were hidden from view for much of the time, at least I couldn't see what a long way down it was! Sadly (?) it was agreed that the mist was too thick for the final climb to the top. It was eerie to feel so enclosed by the mist in this high and seemingly lonely place, and then, to hear the quiet voices of unseen others, and realise that, after all, 'we were not alone'.

Feeling more confident, the next day Blencathra beckoned me. We would ascend it by 'the easier route', and indeed, the incline was (initially) quite gentle. Further up, whilst some took the straight up approach, others found a steady zigzagging aided progress. I adopted the 'walk further, puff less' technique! Whilst we had enjoyed some lovely views on our ascent, at the top once more mist descended, but cleared away as we came down, giving a good view of Scales Tarn and Sharp Edge. As we watched the ant-like people making their way along Sharp Edge, I knew for sure that was one 'first' I wouldn't be trying. (Well, not yet anyway.) A well-deserved pint awaited us in the White Horse at the foot of Scales Fell, and with only three miles to walk back along the valley floor, (must be flat all the way) seemed the perfect way to finish the afternoon. Dave's comment about a small rock to climb over on the way back turned out not to be a joke after all, and whilst everybody else seemed to fly up it, (how do they do that?) I only overcame my 'reluctance' by reminding myself that the alternative was walking back along a busy road.

A walk into Keswick, boat trip across Derwent Water, and gentle walk back were planned for the next day. Quick lesson. Comments like 'it will be flat all the way' do not mean it will be flat all the way. Ever. A small aside to climb up Cat Bells resulted in another small 'reluctance' for me to overcome, but was rewarded with gorgeous views and that warm feeling of achievement. Back in Keswick, some decided to linger longer at the pub, whilst a few of us headed back through the drizzle. That last half mile or so, all up hill of course, seemed endless.

I'm not sure if the next day's walk was a 'tea shop walk' or not. It certainly included tea shops (note the plural) and the walking was relatively easy. We walked through picture postcard scenery as we started out across Ashness Bridge, and returned through Borrowdale and Grange, before pausing to admire Lodore Falls. If scenic moment of the day was watching the clouds breaking and late afternoon sunshine speeding towards us across Derwent Water, comic moment has to be awarded to Helen, for her demonstration of resting on the 'resting stone'.

Sue

I Wandered Lonely as a Teacake, by Helen "Wordsworth" Leech

Day 1:

Newlands Valley, beck and fall
Teacakes in the village hall
Tom made lots of Shepherds pie
Wine and cider, whiskey, rye.

Day 2:

Keswick, boat trip, Lodore fall,
Cream scone nearly two feet tall.
Dave made chicken in white wine,
His baked apples are most fine.

Day 3:

Watendlath and Surprise View
Two teashops! and chocolate too!
Jim made curry for our tea,
Lots of Easter eggs for me.

I like Chelmsford YHA
I like lots of food all day.
But sometimes - after lots of pud -
I think a walk would be quite good.

Alison's bit:

Helen's such a clever girl,
When doing rhymes her head's a whirl,
But my oh my, and golly gosh,
Her poem is obsessed with nosh!

Chelmer & Blackwater Canal Walk

Defying all weather forecasts, the sun was blazing when 14 of us met at Heybridge Basin. To do the walk from the sea to Chelmsford properly, we started at the sea lock. After inevitable group photos, we started on the 14 miles, 11 locks and 77 feet of ascent.

Those of us who've done the walk many times before bored the others with stories of "I remember when this was all fields… I remember that estate being built, I remember Tesco's being built.. the new road, the new bridge". But despite the many changes, much of the route is still green and tranquil, and especially enjoyable on such a glorious day. The tea rooms in the old stables at Paper Mill lock provided much-needed refreshments.

Striding in to Chelmsford, those of us who thought we wouldn't need sun hats and sun cream started looking a little lobster-like. Finishing for our final refreshment stop at Lloyds bar in the centre of Chelmsford, we felt a little out of place with our rucksacks and walking boots, getting some strange looks from the other patrons. But we were in the majority! And we all agreed it had been a very fine walk.

Dave P

Essex Young Farmers Country Show

Anyone not coming on the walk on 15th May might be interested in this from Lynn:

This is a nice event to go to with Landrover displays, traction engines, craft stalls, heavy horse displays etc. Just wondered if people knew about it as they may want to go.

Gardeners Farm, Essex Regiment Way, Chelmsford, Contact Essex YFC Tel: 01371 859732 E-mail: essexyfc@farming.co.uk Adult tickets bought in advance (before 6 May) are £6.50 bought on the day they are £8.00. Paul and I will be attending but with Katie - Our pace will be much slower than everyone else and we'll be watching lots of animals etc. however it would be nice to bump into the odd people that we know should anyone for the YHA be going.