Meet Report 27^th– 29^th March 2026 at High House, Seathwaite.

Friday saw Wendy & Steve arriving early afternoon. Their first task was to get a fire going in the common room to start heating the hut up. Leaving the fire to do its job, they decided to head up Glaramara via the path above Coombe Gill. This gave some shelter from the wind and some interest, ending with a short rocky scramble to the top. They were rewarded with good views from the summit including dramatic shafts of light through the clouds over Great Gable. A steep descent over slippery rocks on the west side took them almost to the hut door just as the light was fading.

The remaining meet participants ( also -1 ) arrived on the Friday evening  and spent some time assisting with the  thawing out the ancient stonework of K Fellfarers’ High House accommodation, whose origins date back to 1565. Fortunately the kitchen and bunks have been renovated and in 1931 the building was acquired by K shoes for a company run recreational hut for their employees, doubtless attracted to this location by the lack of drought risk. For the club insomniacs there is a fascinating 248 page history of the site.

 Saturday arrived and with it a mixed forecast of strong winds, showers and a ‘feels like’ temperature of -11. This did not deter a determined and eager  bunch of Imogen, Conrad, Andrew, Mark, Steve and Wendy from setting off for Scafell Pike. Their route first led them up to Styhead Tarn with a few minutes for a drink and quick bite at the stretcher box. Finding it open, they checked all was in order before securing it properly.

Their chosen route from here was the Corridor route which provided an interesting and at times steep rocky ascent to the col, through snow/hail showers. They were hit by the full brunt of the winds as they gained the col which continued up the rocky path to the top. Here, a quick chat/nod to fellow summiteers included Cecil the Chicken with guardian and a pair of skeletons! After a quick lunch out of the wind, they retraced their steps to the col, battling against wind driven hail. They then continued over Great End with long distance glimpses in all directions in the welcome, but fleeting, sunny & blue sky breaks. No sooner had they enjoyed the brief warm and lull, were they then blasted once again! But they were on the way down, in stunning scenery, with thoughts of a drink in the pub warming by the fire.

Martyn Trasler and  Lizzie were undertaking a family errand and took a drive up to the Honister slate mine to take a walk up to the summit of Haystacks.

 Leaving the car park, they took the fairly steep route up the disused tramline following a well-defined maintained pathway walking head on into a strong wind with driving hail for a short while followed by snow before better weather came their way.  The track rises for about a mile before arriving at the disused Dubs quarry and the MBA Dubs Hut Bothy with Fleetwood Pike to the right. From here the track drops down to cross the stream where there were numerous stones to aid the crossing over what was a reasonable flow. A steady walk up from this point brought great views towards Buttermere and Crummock Water at the bottom of the valley and High Crag and high Stile rising to the side of these.  A steady trek brought them past Blackbeck Tarn and then onto Innominate Tarn and up to the summit of this Haystacks, which whilst just under 2,000ft has spectacular views 360 degrees taking in Ennerdale Water in the distance, Pillar the other side of the Ennerdale Valley and around to Kirk Fell and the Gables and Scafell Pike beyond. It was barely possible to stand on top such was the strength of the wind however they spent around half an hour sheltered from the top next to Summit Tarn, a place close to Martyn’s dad’s heart. They returned, stopping at Dubs Hut with a view to take a sandwich, however it was full of DofE participants with their heavy sacks, bulging with hairdryers, taking a well-deserved rest ironically ahead of the dreadful weather that they would be getting that evening, so lunch was carried back to the car park. Not a long walk, just under five miles and 1,600ft of ascent but a meaningful one.

A party led by GPS guru Mick and followers Richard , Helen and PM Pete Brackley followed up to Stockley Bridge and thence by way of Sprinkling Tarn, Esk Hause and Tongue Head before a leisurely descent down Langstrath, being first to arrive .at  the Country Inn . News travelled fast and we were eventually joined by all meet participants, Including the -1 who had joined the meet to ensure all language was appropriate. It was excellent (and quite unusual) for all participants to gather like this, although clearly our chef (Conrad) was very much on edge during the festivities, thinking of the task ahead. The hardened group of the 4 Langstrathers then completed their walk back to the hut completing their 20k stroll.

Sat again by the fire later that evening in the hut, after a great meal provided by Conrad (and Bev albeit absent), they were able to reflect on a great day – scenery, route and companionship. Ged completed his presidential duties of not only joining us in the pub but by thanking Conrad and Bev and speculating what might be possible on Sunday.

Following a unanimous ( -1) decision Richard Taylor was ‘ elected’ scribe.

Seathwaite is of course known as the wettest inhabited place in England (140 inches) and on Sunday morning did not disappoint us. One member was even observed donning waterproof trousers to load the car. All thoughts of further exercise were abandoned.

Written by AI ( so it says)

Attending : Ged Campion, Imogen Campion, Martyn Trasler, Izzie Trasler, Conrad Tetley, Helen Brewitt, Mick Borroff, Wendy Richards, Steve Richards,Andrew Jarman, Mark Rothwell, Richard Taylor, Pete Brackley ( PM)