I took a weekend trip to the Lake District to celebrate 35 years of Cambridge University Hillwalking Club, meeting up with around a hundred Old Duffers, current members and dufflings at Derwentwater Independent Hostel. To avoid the Friday evening traffic, but not wanting to miss a Thurday-night band rehearsal, I got an early start on the Friday morning to drive up to Mum and Dad’s house in Kendal and work there “from home” for the day. Then I popped across to Natland for an early dinner and got a lift up to Borrowdale with Ruth and Josh, spending a sociable evening in the hostel catching up with old friends as they gathered.
Saturday started with a full English breakfast prepared by the hostel caterers. After that, I chose to join Michael’s proposed walk from Seathwaite up Great Gable, which attracted a real multi-generational group including both current members and some of the oldest attending Duffers (but no children). Fifteen of us drove up the valley in four cars and parked at the end of the lane. We ascended together on the very greasy path beside Sour Milk Gill, then split into two smaller groups for the ascent of Base Brown. Some (including me) opted for the mild scramble up the north ridge while others took the easier route up the hanging valley and back up from the south. The summit was just about clear, with views down into Borrowdale but the surrounding higher hills not visible.
The direct route had been quicker, of course, so we actually met the others near the col with Green Gable. To mix up my company for the day, I switched groups and made a second visit to the summit of Base Brown before continuing up the ridge to Green Gable, then back down to Windy Gap – aptly named, as so often. Michael led five others directly down via Aaron Slack while I led two current club members up the steep rocky path to Great Gable, a few minutes behind the six others who had also gone that way.
It was pretty cold and damp in the cloud at the summit, so we didn’t linger long before checking the compass bearing and starting the descent to Sty Head. We could see the other half-group ahead, and finally caught up with them by the stretcher box. We descended together beside Styhead Gill, getting back to Seathwaite about 15 minutes after Michael’s part of the group, and a little while before a band of heavy rain was forecast to sweep in from the south.
Back at the hostel, we refreshed ourselves with a few cups of tea and hot showers, relaxing and chatting until dinner. The dress code had been advertised as “what you would wear for formal hall”, so I was pleased that lots of other Duffers had made the same decision as me and brought Black Tie anyway, in-keeping with previous Anniversary Dinners. The meal of soup, Cumberland sausage and crumble was simple but hearty, well accompanied by wine and a fun CUHWC-related quiz to tackle in our table-groups. Conversations continued long into the night and I eventually went to bed at around 2am.
On Sunday, I joined Ruth’s proposed walk around the Coledale horseshoe, along with Josh, Phil and John. We parked in Braithwaite and walked anticlockwise, starting with the long ascent to Grisedale Pike. The summit was just in the cloud, but we enjoyed views most of the way up, with the occasional sunny spell.
We continued along the easy ridge to Hopegill Head, then dropped down to Coledale Hause. From there, we reascended by the direct route – new to me – to Crag Hill and then around to Sail, pausing for lunch in a sheltered spot on the descent of the ugly zigzag path down its east ridge.
We then opted to take the direct path to Outerside, rather than going over Scar Crags and Causey Pike, and continued along the ridge from there to Barrow and back down to Braithwaite. A good walk with good company, with views most of the way, and drier weather than the previous day.
I travelled back to Natland with Ruth and Josh, paused for a coffee, then hit the road back to Derby, arriving just before 7pm for a fish and chip supper and an early night.
It was great to catch up with lots of old friends, many of whom I hadn’t seen for a few years, and to see that CUHWC continues to thrive. I look forward to the 40th Anniversary! There are a few more photos here and maps of my walking routes here (Great Gable) and here (Coledale).
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