Sunday, and a 'shorter' walk was requested by those returning home in the afternoon. All I can say is that 6 miles is shorter than 10 miles! Up via Walla Crag (aka Blackpool Prom) to Bleaberry Fell and a descent (with some rock climbing) from High Seat to Ashness.

No room at the inns of Church Stretton so it was off to Bridges Youth Hostel for the weekend. Having rejected the idea of a mixed room it was a case of ladies in their own room but the gents having to share with strangers from other parts. Why does Ian keep mentioning Marigold - is that the name of a cow or a woman?

No Simon, don't drink more than 2 pints of that 8% cider

A return to Keswick

Once again we were blessed with nice weather and even better company. 

Saturday saw us visiting the only tree in the Lake District specifically mentioned on OS maps - yes - the world famous Mosedale Holly Tree!

In the evening, a lack of co-ordination prior to the weekend, saw us searching in vain for a hostelry of sufficient size to accommodate us. Up and down the main street we marched until a couple of tables were spied in one particular pub. Here, it must be said, the food was rather average.

Sunday saw the group take on an 'easy' walk given to us by Alan which only took until 5.00pm to complete - a short walk and then home in the afternoon the programme said.

Bourton-on-the-Crimewave

Friday the thirteenth indeed, was this a wise day to commence a group weekend the organiser asked. No sooner had the group established itself in this picturesque and supposedly quite village than a fight erupted in the pub we were wining and dining in. This was followed, in the middle of the night, by the arrest of one of the guests staying in our guesthouse for a totally unrelated incident. The Saturday walk was not without incident either as one of our number was bitten by a dog that he was trying to assist.

Our annual visit to the rugged mountains of northern Snowdonia.

To most people the main event of our weekends away is the full day walk on Saturday (some just prefer the pub at night). This year the decision on where to walk was determined by the group members who had got themselves sponsored to do a Snowdon walk. Nowhere was it actually defined what a Snowdon walk was and when the weather looked a bit grim in the morning it was suggested that only doing a little bit, or going up on the train and walking around the summit would qualify. In the end everyone was persuaded to gather their gear and board the bus to Pen Y Pass. 

The morning was dry but extremely windy and our ascent via the PYG track was completed by lunch. On arrival at the summit we had to hang on to the new style cairn (nice easy steps, Stannah Stairlift coming soon) in order to prevent a more rapid than necessary descent back to Llanberis due to the strong gusting winds!

After an hour or so sheltering in the concrete carbuncle cafe we carefully started our descent only for the rain to drift in from the sea. And rain it did, constantly and torrentially, until we arrived back in Llanberis soaked to the skin and beyond. But this did not dampen our spirits and several hundred pounds were raised for cancer relief as a result.

Having had a couple of hours to freshen up we re-assembled and went out in search of some traditional Welsh hospitality for our Saturday evening.

This consisted of us first gazumping another (pre-booked) party for a large enough table in the Bistro section of the Padarn Lake Hotel - but only if we were done by eight o'clock. We nearly managed it but the sweet selection tripped us up and we overstayed slightly. Our meals completed we needed to decide where to spend the rest of the evening. 

In the end the continuing torrential rain helped us to decide and a visit to the bar of the same hotel seemed the driest option. We entered the bar to several turned heads and a certain atmosphere which suggested that we had just invaded someone's private function. Nevertheless our illustrious leader ventured to the bar to ask if it was OK to stay. 

Oh, there is one other thing, would anyone like any food from the buffet?

Unseasonally dry in the land of the Snecklifter ! 

Prior to the official start of the weekend Alan & I managed to scare Jean to death by taking her across (up?) Sharp Edge but, once she had safer ground (i.e. flat and wide) under her feet she was filled with exhilaration at what she had just achieved. 

With the remainder of the group assembled we did a pleasant walk above the Wasdale Valley on the Saturday whereupon young Ian managed to firstly slip on a rather gooey section of fellside and then top this with a one legged descent into a thigh deep hole. With no spare trousers, all of a sudden no-one wanted to give him a lift back to the hotel !

Saturday night and a trip to the local curry establishment prior to drinks - what does the restaurant look like a late arrival asked - just like all Indian restaurants came the reply - and it was true. Our meal concluded we headed for the nearest pub where the new intake of attractive young ladies attracted the inebriated attention of the local lads. Despite the gentlemen in the group trying to advise them otherwise they all accepted the offers of spoons from the aforementioned lads. As I understand it this is the local way of proposing marriage (or buying brides, depending on your viewpoint). As a result none of these ladies dare return to Keswick in case they are claimed by their betrothed !

PS Snecklifter is an excellent bitter from the local brewery - Jennings.

The winter, and our walkless spring, was easily forgotten with the re-opening of several paths to the summit of Snowdon, just in time for our weekend away. Adrian arrived first (on Wednesday ! Perhaps taking this punctuality thing a bit too far). The others arrived at various times on Friday but all arrived in time to sample “Friday Night in Llanberis”, this particular weekend featuring Elvis in the Padarn Lake Hotel competing with a welsh language rock band across the road in the Dolbadarn Hotel.

On a beautiful Saturday the group, after disinfecting ourselves in the buckets provided, were able to ascend Snowdon via the PYG track, although some enthusiastic members of the party raced ahead and inadvertently ascended via Crib Goch instead. Congratulations are due to all those present, many of whom had not ‘climbed’ a mountain previously. Two members in particular deserve a mention – Ian, who had consumed rather a lot of alcohol the previous evening and Sarah, who managed to ascend and traverse Crib Goch without breaking a single fingernail. 

The sun shone brilliantly throughout until late on Sunday, probably the hottest two days this year so far and everyone had a wonderful time. We do not mention what the seagull did to Adrian in Porthmadoc on the Sunday OK.

RETURN