Trip to the Lakes

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Trip to the Lakes

In early June Walkers' Coach walked with the Radio 4 'Ramblings' team in the Lakes. This was a fabulous opportunity for us to tell our story and show the work that we do and the fun we have while doing it.

The recording was scheduled for Monday, June 9th but not wanting to miss any opportunity to walk, those who had speedily volunteered to come, also opted to make a weekend of it. And that was the reason that we were all on the road about 7.30 on a Saturday morning, heading north.

We made good time and enjoyed the coffee and lunch stops in sunshine that did not abate as we headed on. But 8 hours in a car is a long time and the need to stretch our legs beckoned as soon as we reached Keswick.

I think a few of the girls thought we were going for a little jaunt around town, but they should know better. In the wonderful late afternoon sunshine we headed up Latrigg. This was easy to reach from where we were staying and due to this is known as Keswick's own "personal fell". It reaches a height of 1203 feet and takes you up quickly and steeply, shocking some but ideal for getting those muscles working.

The view was wonderful and it was like looking down on a map as we picked out parts of the town, the tents housing the beer festival, the walk we would attempt the next day and the beauty of this part of the country. Over to our left, as we climbed up, we could see the very well worn path to Skiddaw - that's one fell to capture another day!

The way down was more gradual and taking the alternative route we returned through woodland and along by the river driven on by the thought of a nice long, cold pint at the end.

Sunday brought even more sunshine and the chance to introduce the others to one of my favourite walks - Cat Bells. You can walk from Keswick to the start of the walk but as the sun was streaming down we felt a journey by launch across Derwent Water was a more majestic approach and we weren't wrong. It was stunning and you could see the path stretch up the hill and along the ridge.

We had agreed that today was a day for taking our time and really enjoying the walk and the scenery and we had no deadlines at all to adhere too - quite an usual situation.

It's uphill from you leave the lake so we took our time and climbed. The path is good and you really do need to stop regularly and look otherwise you miss out on so much. For those in the group who hadn't been to the Lakes before, they were astounded by its beauty and a special mention for Kathy who had visited for the first time a few months previous. Here she was back again and we were taking her up Cat Bells which she had looked at but not ventured up on her past trip. Kathy you were a star and really surprised yourself in all that you achieved and to Lindsey who brought up the rear so often watching out for Kathy and supporting mentally and physically.

Kathy, Chris and Cajsa enjoy the rest

The top was a while coming due to our many stops and we lay in the sun at 1481 feet, enjoying the warmth and the chocolate eclairs, necessary rewards.

From Cat Bells it was a walk south along the ridge, first descending and then up to Maiden Moore and towards High Spy.

We had started the day with a range of options, one of which was to do the Newlands Horseshoe but we decided against this and opted to descend into Grange. Many people consider the 'ups' to be the hard work but I would argue differently. For descents, you need so much concentration and on this little used and steep path it took about 90 minutes to walk down.

When we arrived in the village, it was sad to find the hotel bar closed to non residents but what a great tea shop which did fantastic cakes, sandwiches and ice-creams and also had lots of useful information to impart including the ferry and bus times.

Having come off the top, it had been our plan to walk back along the lake and pick up a launch at one of the landing stages. However, low water levels due to such good weather meant there were some landings the launch couldn't reach and for those it could, we wouldn't get there on time. So, that's the reason we ended up returning on the top of a double decker bus hairing round Lakeland roads. It was great fun.

Zara, the final member of the team arrived on Sunday night and we all settled down (after the pint and food, of course) to a good night sleep in readiness for our 'Ramblings' walk.

The rendezvous point was a car park in Rosthwaite village at 9.00 and we were all there. Sun was still shining and the BBC crew included Claire Balding and Lucy, the producer, complete with all her technology and that wonderful 'hairy boom'. We must have looked a rather strange bunch.

Ready to go

This walk is one of my favourites and as I did most of my training for my first trek along the Great Wall of China in this area, this was an apt one to pick. It's also a walk with great variety starting along a farm track, then crossing a lovely river by a very typical Lakeland stone bridge and moving on into woodland. From there the walk returns to the river before climbing up and offering you wonderful views over Derwent Water. Once up, you walk along on a plateau and then back down to wood and river returning over the ford, and if wise, stopping for a well earned coffee and cake or meal in the Flockin Tea Shop

I have dripped into this welcoming venue on a number of occasions so it was so good to visit in sunny warm weather and enjoy coffee in the garden and to introduce the others to it too.

Now I'm not going to give you any more detail about the walk as I want you to listen on July 18th at 3.00 on Radio 4 and if you miss that, never fear as I shall include the podcast once it's available. You can visit the Ramblings website .