Meet Report: 16-18 January 2026.
By Friday evening eight members and three PMs had assembled at our Low Hall Garth cottage. For two PMs visiting LHG for the first time it was a leap of faith driving down the track in the dark and the others were becoming somewhat anxious as to their whereabouts. Nevertheless, all were there in time for Michael Crowther’s supper of baked potato and beans followed by Mrs C’s, scrumptious Eccles cakes and buns.
Martyn, who had arrived on Thursday, experiencing close encounters of the mouse kind, set out on Friday to Grasmere via Elterwater, where he hoped to purchase a trap. Unsurprisingly in the tourist honeypots of Grasmere the mission failed but it was an enjoyable walk with lovely views. Whilst there he bumped into the Richards and Smiths who were just setting off for an afternoon stroll to Dow Bank by Spedding Crag.
Mark, also out and about on Thursday and Friday, was in Langdale on routes that included High Raise, Angle Tarn, Bowfell and The Band.
On Saturday, fortified by a hearty breakfast, the early risers were off by 8.40. Mark, Helen, Michael S and PMs Darren and James headed via Wet Side Edge, the Carrs and Swirl How towards the Old Man, hotly pursued by Steve, Wendy and Conrad, who set off later having driven over from Grasmere. Visibility was awful but snow, ice and slushy conditions and the need to watch one’s step provided an entertaining outing. Although few others were seen initially, increasing numbers appeared in the gloaming as they closed on the summit. The two parties finally met up on the Old Man then shortly afterwards separated.
The wintry conditions did not seem to deter other folk on the Old Man, although the choice of gear for some of trainers and pyjamas, seemed highly inappropriate. An interesting feature of the walk was the amount of gear by the track including joggers, socks and underpants (the mind boggles!) The descent for both parties down the first 200 metres of the tourist path was a slippery slide on ice and snow hoping that no one would be skittled out of the way by other enthusiastic but in many cases inexperienced hikers.
Both parties met up again on Hole Rake, one having traversed Michael’s secret path, essentially a sheep track, below Brim Fell to Levers Water and the other via the Copper mines main track. It was dark when they arrived back at LHG.
Martyn, Michael C, Robbie, Robert and Neil stayed below the clouds with good views all day. Setting off to High Tilberthwaite then via Hodge Close, past the disused deep sided quarry where Robert related tales of his diving experiences there years ago, they continued to Low Tilberthwaite, Shepherd’s Bridge and finally to Tarn Hows and lunch. Looking towards the clouds engulfing the Old Man, they pondered where the other party might be. Leaving Tarn Hows, they picked up the Cumbrian Way to Oxen Fell, High Cross and continued over to Hodge Close, Stang End and the Three Shires. It was an enjoyable walk of over 10 miles with 1700ft of ascent. All parties met back at LHG for tea and cakes. Wendy, Steve and Conrad departed and the rest of us were treated to a tasty evening meal.
John Jenkin meanwhile had been busy Friday and Saturday plastering and painting inside the cottage. All remarked what a good job he’d done but he was rather weary on Saturday evening.
The weather on Sunday was miserable and most departed promptly having given the cottage a good fettle. Mark, not to be deterred, went north and completed the Coledale Horseshoe. Over 6 days around the meet he covered some 112km with 7000m of ascent. He doesn’t claim any kind of record but it does show that weather is no bar if you put your mind to it.
Attending: Michael Crowther (meet organiser), Robert Crowther, James Greaves (PM), John Jenkin, Robbie Marram (PM), Mark Rothwell, Darren Sercombe (PM), Helen Smith, Michael Smith, Martyn Trasler, Neil West.
Day visitors: Steve Richards, Wendy Richards, Conrad Tetley
The photo of mine is not of Bowfell summit – it is of High Rise – Taken on the Thursday
Reading the report it seems not a lot was achieved on the Sunday – just for the record I completed the Coledale Horseshoe – in fact over the days preceding and after the meet I had done 6 days on the hill -112K and 7000m of ascent – not any kind of record I know – but a productive meet for me
Mark R
Mark’s six days around the meet:
Day 1 – 15th A walk around Grasmere Common/Blea Rigg, Sergeants Man (which was quite wintery) and High Rise – 19.35K and 1100m Ascent – mostly in the cloud until High Rise where a view across to the lying snow on Great End/Gable was the highlight of the day, returning to Grasmere via Gibson Knots and Helm Crag – the latter always a good ridge walk – You have the best photo from Whats App!
Day 2 – 16th An Exploratory visit to Angle Tarn, Great End, Esk Hause and The Band – 18.42K and 1178m of Ascent – todays walk was to check out the gully conditions by the side of Angle Tarn and the back of Great End (as viewed from High Rise Yesterday) – Again I was in the cloud all day – I made a brief ascent of Angle Tarn gulley (some ice and Frozen Turf) – but backed off – no axe and it was becoming steeper, moved onto Great End where locating anything was difficult – I made a note of where Cust’s Gulley was for a possible future visit, I returned to LHG via Bowfell and the Band – thankful for the cairned path on The Band in the deteriorating conditions.
Day 3 – 17th – Coniston Old Man – you will already have someone’s walk report and my best photo – 20.11K and 1071m of Ascent.
Day 4 – 18th Coledale Horseshoe from Braithwaite – quite a tough round, firstly in clear skies then rain and cloud – no real snow left – 18K and 1478m of Ascent – I went over Stile End, Outerside, Causey Pike, Sail, Crag Hill, Sand Hill, Hopegill Head and Grizedale Pike. I went slightly wrong at Hopegill Head – started descended Hobcarton Crag in the mist – quickly realised this was too difficult and got back on the path, soaked to the skin when I arrived back at the car – made my way to the Gritstone Club’s Hut – The Smithy – quite a nice hut and the only one there.
Day 5 – 19th – Setting off and Returning to The Smithy with a route over the Dodds (Stybarrow, Watsons and Great) Dropping off Clough Head to St Johns in the Vale returning over Low and High Rigg – 19K and 1243m of Ascent – A fine weather day outing with a super Brocken Spectre.
Day 6 – 20th – Half Kentmere Horseshoe setting off from Troutbeck, via the Garburn road over Yoke, Ill Bell, Froswick finishing at Thornthwaite Beacon dropping down to and returning along the Troutbeck Valley – 17.69K and 1039m of Ascent – a cloudy and rather windy day – head down walking all day!