Saturday 17 February 2018

Buttermere

My favourite day so far.

AM - run up to the summit again but feeling jaded after all the hills. 10ish ks.

Still the AM - drive along the Derwentwater shoreline towards Grange and then onto Borrowdale where the two elder boys had been with their school walking in June last year. The valley is pristine and Lord of the Rings’esque. Then the bit I had most been waiting for, the drive over Honister Pass and one of the most exhilarating drives to be had in Britain. We stopped at the col at the very top, at the slate mine to take in the 360 views. The pictures simply don’t do justice.

The valley then meanders down toward Buttermere where we stopped for an early lunch at the local cafe before marching the boys out of the car park to tackle the circuit around the north easterly perimeter - see map below.

It was perhaps best we were blind to the difficulty level. As as soon as we reached any sort of height the wind became more and more intense. With views now over looking the lakes Buttermere and Crummock Water we followed the group ahead along the hill top and a series of false summits. After 4 or so times of thinking we’d reached the top we finally arrived at the heighest outcrop having to  scramble over the hard rock.

The walk down was quite treacherous. When alone I am fine but having the family there and the added responsibilities that go with it I must admit a little fear crept in. Instead of the slow drag on the way up this went all the way down to the valley floor within a matter of a few hundred meters.

Down and safe we followed the lake back around to the delightful Buttermere to drive home.

Evening - family dinner at the Royal Oak in Keswick and a few pints. Thoroughly recommend in particular the steak and ale pie as well as the sticky date pudding. Everyone in good spirits.

Run: https://www.strava.com/activities/1410380454

Walk: https://www.strava.com/activities/1410381543
















































No comments:

Post a Comment