Footpaths Are For Wimps: The Newlands Horseshoe-ish
Friday 12th July
A few members of the walking group Footpaths Are For Wimps organised another trip to Keswick in the Lake District to conquer a few more mountains.
An early finish on a Friday afternoon meant that both Iain and myself could travel up to the campsite in the same car. We set off at around 2:30 and arrived at 4:50. 🙂
When arriving at the campsite I was impressed at how well laid out it was. We went to reception to check-in but we had seen from the campsite's website that they don't allow groups. Hmm... well, the fella on reception saw is both get out of the same car - so immediately we were on the backfoot. Iain paid for himself and I paid for myself too. Iain then said what you would think would be the most heinous thing ever. He told the fella that our mate had already checked in and we were joining him. His face dropped and he pointed at the rules for the campsite. He pointed at the one in Bold and larger font which states that everyone Must he SILENT at 10:30 pm. We agreed, and after being furnished with our own copy of the site rules were told that if one of our group broke any of the rules then we would all be told to leave. 🤣 We also were told about the facilities on site.
So after that warm welcome, we drove our car to where Dave had already pitched his tent. We unpacked the car and began pitching our tents which we had done by about 5:30 pm. We'd already noted that at the front of the campsite was a Cafe/Bistro. The weather was fantastic and the sun was shining so we decided to go and check it out. We'd all got beers back at the tents but it would be rude not to try a local ale wouldn't it? A couple of pints and a couple of hours later we made the arduous journey back to our tents. It wasn't arduous at all 😂 - it was literally a 1-minute walk. We did, however, call at the on-site shop which backed on to the reception. I bought a bag of crisps and some Haribo and a lighter for my stove (I always forget something). Iain bought some marshmallows and a new rock tent peg to use as a skewer for his marshmallows. LOL. So it was now about 8:25 pm, still quite warm and light and we started to cook some food. Now, if you've ever seen my culinary expertise before, you know that I'm no MasterChef. My tea comprised of buttered bread and 4 fried Cumberland chipolata sausages 😆👍🏻 Dave had his just-add-water camping food - Thai Green Curry - which he said wasn't nice at all. Iain took the longest, as he goes all out and made Chow Mein with Crispy Noodles.
With the sun setting at around 9:30 pm Iain being a budding amateur photographer, took his camera and we made our way into the centre of the campsite where we could get a good view of the sunset. We met a couple from Liverpool, Mark and Mandy, who were sleeping in a converted Transit van. Mark had done the conversion himself, and we were impressed with the work that had gone into it. Back at the tents at around 10:20 toasting marshmallows over Iain's stove; preparing for the Curfew. My goodness, the moment it struck 10:30 pm the site went so quiet - you could hear a pin drop - it was slightly disconcerting; but absolutely hilarious at the same time. We continued to talk quietly and toasting marshmallows. Next thing we had one of the campsite staff come and reprimand us for talking and reminded us to be SILENT as it was after 10:30 pm. 🤣🤣 We apologised and went to bed shortly after anyway as we were all knackered.
Saturday 13th July
I was awake at 5:30 am - and only an hour and a half before my alarm - but never mind lol. I got up, went to the loo as I'd been bursting to go through most of the night but couldn't be bothered getting out of my sleeping bag.
They have the nicest and cleanest wash facilities I've ever seen on a campsite! Impressed I was.
Nicer than some hotel rooms I've stayed in!
I cooked my breakfast - sausage butties again (My diet is amazing) - and watched as other people started to get up around the campsite. I watched a bit of YouTube (with earbuds in - it still was within the SILENT timeslot) and waited until my mates were due to get up. We had all set the alarms on our phones for 7 am. When all three phones simultaneously rang out with our alarms a passer-by chuckled.
Dave and Iain got up and made their breakfast and then we all got our walking gear together and set off in Dave's car to where our planned route was to start.
Dave had planned a horseshoe route which would bring us back to the car. It was quite warm but cloudy and looked like it was going to rain. Dave and I had our waterproofs in our rucksacks; just in case. Iain had forgotten his waterproofs and we taunted him as the weather looked pretty drab. Iain was to have the last laugh though.
Setting off from a little village called New Town, we set off walking at 9 am. The first hill was a killer; it was all grass and quite steep. I asked the lads why had they talked me into doing this again lol. This was the start, and I was already knackered. I really am unfit lol.
The walk turned into a climb, then a scramble; more rocks to climb and then more walking. It made for an interesting journey. We reached our first of seven summits - ROBINSON - and as customary on our walks, we have a shot of alcohol - usually whisky - and take a photograph along with our group mascots (foxes)
https://www.facebook.com/paulgannon01/posts/10156251968651911
We continued our walk down from Robinson and back up to our second summit - HINDSCARTH
I did have to stop on the way down as my toenails were being pushed into my toes as they were too long. Luckily Iain had some toenail clippers in his first aid kit and so I removed my boots and socks and clipped my toenails at 589 metres above sea level. I'm not too sure if this has been done by anyone at this height in the history of mankind. It may be a world record lol - who knows? There is photographic evidence in the Google Photos Album at the bottom of this post.
Another whisky shot and another photo and we stopped for lunch.
https://www.facebook.com/paulgannon01/posts/10156252027166911
As Dave was leading our expedition and taking a look at the time taken to get to where we were, and the time it would take to get back down, we decided to abandon the original route and find a different way off the mountain. Map and compass time!
Not far from where we were was what was described on the map as a Cairn but we decided to have a walk over the plateau to it and claim it as another peak and to finish off the whisky. Now when I say - finish off the whisky - to be honest, Iain had only really enough in his hipflask for one shot each. So we shared the single shot over the three peaks lol
https://www.facebook.com/paulgannon01/posts/10156252092276911
*as DALE HEAD was supposed to be our next mountain; we cheekily claimed this last one as "Higher Dale Head" - yes; the cat is out the bag - we know it's only a cairn.
Dave, the King of Higher Dale Head
There were a number of walkers up at Hindscarth and Higher Dale Head* and one amongst them was an American lady and we had a photo taken with her and then she went on her way with her group.
Then the blazing sun came out as we made our descent which took 2 or more hours and it was very rocky and a lot of climbing down. Now I like the sunshine but with a rucksack on - weighed down with unnecessary waterproofs in it -was a killer. (Told you Iain had the last laugh haha).
Actual route.
The drive back to the campsite impeded only by a broken down van was nice as the sun was shining. Once back at the campsite we all got our wash stuff and went to the shower facilities which were extremely impressive. I loved the shower and could've stayed in all day. After the showers, we all went back to the tents them made our way to the Cafe/Bistro. We sat outside in the sunshine with Mark and Mandy, mentioned earlier, and had a couple of pints each. We decided to stay as they serve food. Dave and I opted for the Scafell Burger. It was absolutely amazing. Iain had Cock n' Bull (chicken and steak) and he asked for the chef to incinerate his steak as he likes it well-done. This was far better than the food we had back at the tents.
After tea, we went for a short walk to The Crag Bar. It was really fun - although I was ready for bed - I was so tired haha. We got chatting to three lively characters from the North East who were all on the same Campsite as us. We all joked about the STRICT RULES of our campsite. The most important being that everyone is SILENT at 10:30 at night. Iain and Dave had a Bailey's and chocolate milkshake which looked absolutely rank. Washed down with Sommersby Cider. #CurdleCity
Back to the campsite. I got in my sleeping gear had a brew. The other two had a beer and Iain had a cigar-or-three as nobody would help him smoke them.
I went to bed.
Sunday 14th July
We woke on Sunday; not quite as early as the previous day. We made breakfast - I had beans and sausages from a can. You can really see how good my cooking skills are, can't you? After breakfast, I washed my pots in the scullery - again very well maintained.
I decided to go for another shower. I do like a good shower and as these were piping hot and so well maintained it would be rude not to use them.
We took down our tents and packed the cars and decided that whilst we were here we may as well have a walk to Castlerigg Stone Circle. Quite a trek from the campsite; but as we are walkers anyway it was no biggie. To be honest I wasn't mightily impressed. It's a bunch of stones. 🤣
https://www.facebook.com/paulgannon01/posts/10156254022851911
After getting back to Campsite about 11:45 am we all left for home.
Click the Google Photos Album link below to see all of the photos from the weekend.
Thanks for reading.
Click for photos