I've been in the English Lake District for a birthday party. It's the 30th birthday of my club, the Mountaineering Club of Bury (the MOB). I've been a member for nearly 20 years, and although I no longer live down in that area, have stayed a member. 86 members and families turned up at Borrowdale YHA for the meet. After socialising on Friday evening (where a moderate quantity of strong drink was taken) groups set out with a variety of plans on the Saturday. There were groups climbing, walking, scrambling, mountain biking and paragliding. I elected to join a group doing a walking and scrambling route from Borrowdale to Great Gable and back.
After walking to Seathwaite, where upwards of 200 cars were parked along the farm road, we climbed up Sour Milk Gill and into the vally of Gillercombe. Ahead lay the main scrambling, on Gillercombe Buttress.
The scrambling on this buttress is in a really nice situation, and various combinations can be linked. Here Ian (our walking machine) points the way.
After topping out on Grey Knotts, we went over Brandreth and Green Gable to Great Gable. The group now comprised 11; here pictured on the return route at the summit of Brandreth.
Our return then went via Honister Pass, where a cafe, slate mine visitor centre and the UK's only via ferrata are located. A moderate amount of strong coffee was taken.
The descent back to borrowdale was blessed with superb late sunshine and nice views - here across the head of Borrowdale towards Heron Crag.
The evening light brought out the early autumn colours as we descended to Borrowdale. Shafts of low sunlight were flooding the vally with mellow golden colours.
An evening's entertainment, fine food and a moderate quantity of strong drink followed!
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