Meet Report: 12-14 September 2025.

Despite the wild, windy and wet weekend weather the welcome return to the 3-way format Joint Meet at the Wayfarers’ Robertson Lamb Hut (RLH) in Great Langdale was voted a great success. Much cross-pollination occurred among the 15 present and more serious activity occurred than could have been expected.

It bodes well for the popularity of a continued 3-way format rotating between the clubs. The Yorkshire Ramblers’ have kindly undertaken the next year’s round at Lowstern for 2026  (11-13 September). It is hoped that 2027 will be taken up by the Rucksack Club (TBA).

Only two Rucksackers were available this first year as there was a RC meet at Beudy Mawr organised before the planned 3-way joint meet was clearly communicated to them. Mike Gregg had expected to be there but had to pull out for family reasons.

The YRC President (Ged Campion) appeared himself on the Saturday only as he was off to Kalymnos early the next day, and a further seven YRC travelled up. The hosting Wayfarers were five including Peter Baker and Carol whose meet catering was greatly appreciated as was Bruce Hassall’s Friday night meal, for which we thank them both. Helen and Michael Smith were much missed, grounded by severe colds.

Stuart stole a march arriving at the crack of dawn on Friday and looping in and out of cloud up Bowfell via the Climbers’ Traverse, the Great Slab and on to Pikes Esk and Rossett via Angle Tarn and all the Langdale Pikes, missing only Pavey Ark. The Bakers re-acquainted themselves with Stickle Tarn while Bruce and Steve headed over to Ambleside via Chapel Stile, High Close and Rydal, returning by bus for afternoon tea in the sun at the RLH.

On Saturday, 7 am saw Solvig set off to attempt the Langdale Round.  She made it past Pike o’Blisco, Great Knott, Crinkle Crags where she was nearly blown off the mauvais pas so went left, before backtracking on Bowfell to find the most difficult way down, then via Ore Gap on to Rossett Pike before succumbing to a wind warning, rain and poor visibility to return via the Cumbrian Way and leave the Langdale Pikes for another day. In the words of Don Whillans “Remember the mountain will always be there. The trick is to make sure you are too”.

Martyn left RLH by road to the New DG and then picked up the Cumbrian Way, following Mickleden Beck to the ford and then taking the path up Stake Gill out of Great Langdale to the pile of stones on Stake Pass overlooking Borrowdale. With showers blowing in and out and a stiff breeze, a chap came in the opposite direction with news of impending thunderstorms and lightning near to the Ambleside area so he scrapped High Rise, Sergeant Man and Blea Rigg to return via Chapel Stile and calling at the ODG to take advantage of the “Wayfarers’ rates” on beer prices before walking back to RLH in between heavy showers.

Mark and Malcolm set off from Rydal to do Great Rigg via Nab Scar and Heron Pike and then return via Stone Arthur but plans changed on the way up, extending their walk to complete the Fairfield Horseshoe, wet throughout and windy and really quite cold on top: 17.7km – 1154m ascent.

Meanwhile the Whalleys stayed at low level, following field paths to Chapel Stile and on to Elterwater, where they saw a family of otters swimming towards the reeds. They continued almost to Skelwith Bridge, but slowed somewhat with photo-stops (the conditions were perfect for scenery, with alternating rain and sunshine) so retreated back to Elterwater and a pint in the Britannia.

The main party: Bruce, Gareth, Stuart, Steve, Carol, Peter, Rachel and Paul headed up to the ODG on the footpaths North of the road to avoid considerable traffic passing for the marathon event being staged from the New DG.

Most traversed Lingmoor Fell anti-clockwise in wild conditions. Returning via Chapel Stile most partook of cake at Brambles (which Stuart said was his objective for the day…), but Rachel and Paul detached, heading off to Little Langdale for an extensive visit to Cathedral Cavern. Their weather was very playful …a 15-minute cycle of brief torrential showers alternating with warm sunshine, repeating again and again! On the return they felt the need to shelter from a particularly heavy shower in the Britannia.

Peter and Carol headed back early but what happened next could have been extremely serious. Walking peacefully back along the public road, neither heard till too late an electric mountain bike approaching at full speed behind. Carol was violently taken out good and proper, felled to the tarmac by 25kg of bike and over 90kg of rider who only saw her and braked too late. Already whiplashed from a recent RTA, Carol was badly shaken but unbelievably escaped from it with no broken bones and only shock and severe bruising, able luckily to walk back without help to the RLH. Lessons to be learnt are, for cyclists of all persuasions, to give way to anything in front, to ride safely at a speed over which they have full control, and to warn loudly of their approach by some method if approaching a pedestrian. And, for pedestrians, especially if wearing a hood, to check for traffic behind visually and not to rely solely on hearing as we so often do.

Only Mark braved the mists on Sunday morning, walking across the road from the hut, up into the cloud and damp again to Blea Rigg via Castle How, dropping down a slippery wet path below Belles Knott to Easedale tarn then back up to Blea Rigg reconnecting with the outgoing path back to the hut: 10.5km – 781m of ascent. Gareth, Rachel and Paul took advantage of better weather outside the Lakes on their way home and had a pleasant walk around the Hutton Roof area.

Those present:

WC: Bruce Hassall, Steve Crossley, Gareth Bloor, Carol and Peter Baker

RC:  Rachel Johnston, Paul Taylor

YRC: Ged Campion, Martyn Trasler, Solvig Choi, Stuart Dix, Mark Rothwell, Malcolm Lynch, Carol and John Whalley.