Keswick Mountain Festival
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Keswick Mountain Festival |
Sixth Keswick Mountain Festival 16th to 20th May 2012
The Keswick Mountain Festival is continuing to be a success bringing visitors into the town to take part in competitive and non-competitive events, enjoy the Adventure Base on Crowe Park and the varied talks. In 2012 the talks will take place in the Rawnsley Centre at the western end of Keswick
Click here to go to the Keswick Mountain Festival Site for full information about the event
KR Guided Walks have three walks per day throughout the Festival including some new ones and we look forward to your company. Full details are on the KMF and KR Guided Walks web sites. Have a look on the blogs too to see pictures of the walks.
Here are the walks Skye and I will take you on.
On Wednesday 16th May there is a walk over Rannerdale Knotts at Buttermere where the bluebells and gorse should be in flower. Not too hard or long this will make a lovely start to the Festival.
On Thursday we are climbing Great End, but not the usual way! From Seathwaite we shall use the scrambly path up beside Taylor Force; then cross over the Styhead Pass path to climb a grassy fellside to the top of Seathwaite Fell. Grassy paths between little tarns will take us to Sprinkling Tarn (and lunch) before crossing the main path from Styhead and aiming up the grass to The Band and the north ridge of Great End itself. If the conditions are good we may even be able to avoid most of the main paths on the descent too! Definitely a wilderness day.
From Friday to Sunday I am putting on a three day event called Footloose on the Fells. Although this is described as a three day Introduction to Fell Walking in the Lake District it will also be ideal for anyone who already knows the area but wants to become more confident at exploring the fells on their own. As well as enjoying three good days fell walking over a variety of terrain including a little easy scrambling there will be plenty of opportunity to practise map reading and discuss route planning, safety and equipment too. Bring a compass and a copy of OS Explorer Map 1:25 000 The Lake District NW Area (OS4). On Friday and Saturday we will walk from Keswick and on Sunday we will cross Derwentwater on the Launch to climb Causey Pike.
The Cumberland Ale 2008 Keswick Mountain Festival took placefrom 14th to 18th May
The sun shone and everyone had a good time
Visitors had the opportunity to try a wide range of outdoor activities from walking to climbing;scrambling to photography; kayaking to gill scrambling. You could learn more about the history of the area with mine walks and stone wall building or practice with map and compass or go Geocaching. There was the chance to compete in the first Keswick Triathlon, cycle Trail Quest or the Lattrigg fell race. In addition there were plenty of talks and films about mountaineers and other adventurers in this country and abroad. We all enjoyed hearing from Julia Bradbury about producing the Wainright TV series on the Lakeland Fells. In fact there was something for everyone!
Reminders of Cathy's 2008 Mountain Festival Walks
I took groups out most days. On Wednesday we took the bus to Seatoller and then had a glorious walk in perfect weather along the Borrowdale valley above Johny's Wood, up through the old Rigghead Quarries to High Spy. After Maiden Moor we dropped down to the Newlands Valley and round to Hawes End to catch the launch back to Keswick. Lots of sunshine but not too hot - a super day
striding along Borrowdale
on top of High Spy
waiting for the chatterers?
On Friday Alan Hinkes joined a group climbing Great Gable from Honister Pass. In 2007 we had to abort this walk due to high winds but today was ideal walking weather and everyone enjoyed the scrambly outing over Great Gable followed by a grassy stroll over Brandreth and Grey Knotts
enjoying alan hinkes company above Honister Pass
alan enjoying a break at the end of Moses Trod before climbing the North West ridge of Great Gable
all of us on the summit of Great Gable.
descending from Great Gable to Windy Gap
On Saturday I led a Ladies only walk sponsored by Asolo up Skiddaw with a free pair of boots for one lucky participant. We took the bus round to Mirehouse and after walking through Dodd Wood we climbed to Carlside Tarn by way of Ullock Pike and Longside Edge - one of my favourite ways to climb Skiddaw. By now it was cool, breezy and misty with no shelter for lunch! By the time we reached the summit there was a strong wind and thick cloud. We descended rapidly back to Carlside and down to Mikllbeck. A pleasant ramble through the fields back to Keswick concluded the day.
looking west down the Ullock pike ridge
windy and misty on the top of Skiddaw
down out of the cloud on Carlside
On Sunday I took a group up Blencathra. Some were keen to climb Sharp Edge, others wanted to avoid it! So, together we climbed to Scales Tarn and then split into two groups with most coming with me up Sharp Edge while the others climbed Scales Fell and met us at the top. As it was a clear day the groups were in sight of one another as they climbed and everyone enjoyed their own challenge! After lunch at the summit we walked along the main ridge and descended Blease Fell
beginning the traverse of Sharp Edge
Sharp Edge - carefully does it!
striding along the top of the Edge!
all together again after the climb
