Lake District

August 2001

On Friday 10 August, Lucy picked me up from work as arranged, but to my complete surprise, whisked me off to the Lake District for a weekend.

On Saturday morning, it was raining in Broughton, but I was determined to make the most of the weekend regardless. On Friday evening, the Lakes weather forecast had suggested that it would be better in the east and north, though this morning it was rather less positive, but nonetheless I decided to head east. I checked at the tourist information office in Broughton which areas had been reopened following the Foot & Mouth Disease restrictions, and then drove to Patterdale (at the southern end of Ullswater), and set off up the path across Birkhouse Moor towards Helvellyn.

Walking up Grisedale, shortly to cross the bridge in the centre of picture, to begin the long climb of Birkhouse Moor in the distance.

I climbed to Hole in the Wall (the only hole in a wall that I'm aware of that is indicated on an Ordnance Survey map) then along Striding Edge to the summit. I had thought when I set off that the weather was improving, as it was better than in Broughton, but the rain didn't stop for more than two minutes at a time, and the cloud didn't lift. I kept the camera wrapped up in a waterproof bag to protect it from the rain, and in the hope that the weather would improve later in the day.

However, that didn't happen. The weather on the summit was foul, but there were still about twenty of us eating our sandwiches in the wall shelter. I then descended by way of Swirral Edge and back down Birkhouse Moor.

Grisedale on the way down Birkhouse Moor.

Overall, an enjoyable walk, partly because of the suddenness of it all - 24 hours previously I'd been sitting behind a desk with no idea that I would soon be in the Lake District. Shame about the rain, which continued into the night without stopping, but a very nice change nevertheless.

Distance 11.26km, height gain 885m, time taken 6 hours (including stops).