Youth Hostel & Walking Weekend at Buttermere - September 2011

Two pubs, one Youth Hostel and some very changeable weather. The perfect ingredients for a weekends walking in the Lake District. Teessport CSSC organised a couple of days away for a group of 30 members and after arriving in what looked to be the start of monsoon season we managed to get settled in and walked down to the pub.

The morning came around and still there was no let up in the rain, so out we ventured into the storm. A 10 mile stroll around Crummock Water! We weren't the only ones, there was a triathlon going on, our group didn't need to swim though to get wet, the rain was now falling at a 45 degree angle. Anyway after a few hours, one self-made bridge to ford a river and more than a few boots full of mud and water, we made it to the Kirkstile Inn, log fire, food and that vital restorative - beer, J2O for the kids, (It is always important to rehydrate after exercise!). By the time we all left the pub, some more enthusiastically than others, the sun finally made an appearance. Last few miles back to the Youth Hostel and a fight to get into the shower first before tea and another visit to the pubs.

Sunday morning and quite a few hungover faces eventually appeared at the breakfast table. Lads and dad's walk today for me and my son and a friend with his boy, a perfect day for a walk, bright and no rain, so we decided on Haystacks. After a good climb up to the top we were all rewarded with great views of the Buttermere Fells and went for a look around Inominate Tarn before heading back to the hostel.

Despite some bad weather, the whole weekend was very rewarding and a big thanks to those who organised it and arranged the walks too. Highly recommended even if you don't walk much as some people went into Keswick during the day and everyone got together in the evenings. Me and my son are already planning our walks for Grasmere next May.

Nick Bishop
Vice Chairman Teessport CSSC