THE official club walk was on Sunday, May 18th, but 15 members made a weekend of it and a glorious one it turned out to be.

On the Saturday the group walked from Honister slate mine out to the summit of Haystacks 598 metres passing on the way Innominate Tarn where the late Arthur Wainwright’s ashes are scattered.

After taking in the vast panorama of Buttermere, Crummock Water and Grasmere, we re-traced our steps back to pick up what in the past was a pony track to descend to Gatesgarth Farm via Warnscale Botton. From this point the very steep drop off High Crag down Gamlin End was clearly visible this was part of Sundays walk.

Re-grouping at Gatesgarth in the sunshine the general opinion was it was too soon to return to our hotel. The party set off around Buttermere, this adding another three miles to the seven and a half already completed. An ice cream stop at Wilkinsyke Farm completed the day.

Sunday morning we gathered in Buttermere village with the numbers swelled by another five members and another perfect walking day.

At 10am we started off across Scales Bridge along a stoney path on the edge of Crummock Water heading up and away from the water and the five B group walkers.

We were soon at the foot of Scales Force 47 metres - the highest waterfall in Lakeland but sadly obscured by the Birch and Rowan growing in this deep gorge.

Having scrambled our way up past the gorge the valley flattenEd out to slant up the heathery side of the valley onto the ridge just north of Red Pike 600 metres. This picture postcard view needed time to be appreciated and was a perfect spot for lunch. We were looking towards the Newlands Pass, Buttermere village below and Blencarthra in the distance, Grasmoor with Rannerdale Knotts in front of it.

We were making good time but we reluctantly moved on up and over Red Pike for a two mile ridge walk, over High Stile at 806 metres, the highest point of the day. From this vantage point we could see Green Gable, Great Gable, Pillar and down into the Ennerdale Valley. Although the rocky outcrops made it difficult to get any rythmn going we soon reached High Crag and Gamlin End everyone coped with this in their own style some with more than three points of contact.

From here it was downhill to Scarth Gap this was a major pass between the Buttermere valley and Ennerdale and still is with walkers and cyclist we met a few taking their bikes for a walk.

From Peggy’s bridge and the valley bottom we finished the walk on the north side of Buttermere anti clockwise this time (twice in two days) still gorgeous.

The B walkers had come out to meet the main group which was very nice.

They had a beautiful walk around Crummock Water passing the Victorian pump house at Lanthwaite Woods where they had lunch, before turning back through woods and meadows to reach High Rannerdale which is swathed in massive patches of bubells at this time of year, a historical feature of the area.

Back in the village they visited the small church which had a commemorative plaque in the window to A. Wainwright this being his favourite view of Haystacks.

All agreed it had been a wonderful weekend.

The next walk to Preisthaugh is on Sunday, June 1. Meet in Selkirk for shared transport at 9am. For more information call Rodger Adams on 01450 374075.

A.H