06/10/12 - All Praise High Raise

Distance - 10.3 miles
Geocaches - 1
Pubs - Three
Bed for the Night
Wainwrights Climbed - 2 (Sergeant Man and High Raise)

High Raise

Our bi-annual, boys only walking weekend in the Lakes comes around again.  This was booked 6 weeks ago, with immense trouble finding a hotel that offered accommodation for one night only in the lakes.  Three of us looked and eventually, I found something in the next village along from Ambleside (scene of the last trip out) that probably was a little out of budget at £131 for a twin room. 

Still, the breakfast was nice.

And so was the weather.  What a stroke of luck to have been rewarded with such gorgeous walking weather.  Sunday may have provided the first frost of autumn but the perfect clear skies more than made up for it.  But this was Sunday.... we did the walking on a Saturday.

Bad news earlier in the week (get well soon Moria) meant that the four became three.  You may have missed the hills Gav, but I guarantee you won't have missed my post pint snorefest.

Alarm goes at 5:50am and we are away and up the M6, arriving in the hotel carpark 3 hrs 15 minutes later, having been robbed at the Costa Coffee at Lancaster services.  Boot up and head down towards the town, picking up a path next to the river Rothay and then up the Easedale Road before picking up the wilds. 

Waterfall, first photo opp.

I am following Rocket up the hill, noticing that something is pouring out the bottom of his rucksack.  It's either his giant bottle of lucozade (how middle class, he's not even ill), his water supply or even more worrying, his hipflask. 

Its OK, the Whisky is safe.

At Easedale Tarn, we pick up a solo half polish-half grimsby lady walker who asks me "if we are there yet".  That rather depends on where you are going and she genuinely has no idea or no map.  She does have nice sandwiches which she is prepared to share, so not all bad.  However, she can't keep up with us.  With no destination in mind, I am sure she had a fine day out.

Easdale Tarn.  Geocache on other side of water.

Ewan correctly identifies that the hard work is about to start and he is right.  Bit of hands on rock is required as we climb up past Belles Knott - The Matterhorn of the Lakes. 

Hard work begins

Matterhorn Mobot

First peak is Sergeant Man.  Rocky climb and we meet a middle aged ladies rambling club.  This provides opportunities for camera sharing, with Rocket taking conrtol of an iPhone and me handing over my camera. She did half a decent job.

Sergeant Man - Good First Attempt

But take your finger off the button when handing it back

High Raise requires no extra climbing and from Sgt. Man looks uninspiring, with just the shelter of stones to pick it up.  Once arriving there, we are rewarded with stunning views that make it a great place for lunch and my one and only geocache of the day.  

I hadn't realised how boring geocaching is to non cachers.

Having a) soaked in the views and b) waited for Rocket to moan about the cold, we head off to Greenup edge, where we turn right for a long, long walk down the valley back to the pub.  Ewan waits until he is right next to an elderly couple eating lunch before he completes the day's most spectacular fall, leaving his creamy trousers decidely more mud splattered.

All the way back

Nearing the end of the walk, I look behind me to be reminded of just how lucky we have been with the weather.

Never gets better than this

So back to the hotel, a couple of pints to confirm Albion's best start to a season since 1911 (when we won the title) and shower, change to see what Grasmere offers for entertainment.

Two pubs in town, with the pick being Tweedies Bar.  This had a bit of everything - 5 real ales, a wedding, decent food and a band that came on at 9:30pm.  We could only stay awake for their opening two songs and a walk back home to look at the stars and attempt to stay up for match of the day.  I caught it on Sunday morning.