MY ANNUAL WALKING TOUR (3)

I came back last Monday from my annual walking tour in the Lake District. After terrible weather on the drive up to Lancaster and a 10-year run without rain during the three days in question, we felt sure that we would be in for a drenching. But no. As we drove up on the Thursday morning, the clouds lifted and we had three days of good weather; driving back on the Sunday morning, it started to drizzle again.

We stayed at the Screes in Nether Wasdale, at the western end of Waswater, which had been our base for the first three years. However, the pub has since been sold to a brewery, and it told, particularly on the food side. Luckily there's a pub on the other side of the road, with good food and bubbly service, so we chose to eat there in the evenings. One thing that is noteworthy is the size of the bill for this holiday. Back in 2002 it cost us all more than £300 a head; this year a mere £220. At 43, you can easily drink 4 pints of beer before dinner and two bottles of wine with it; at 53, that has fallen to one or two pints and one bottle of wine max.

Waswater is a fantastic place to explore the Lake District, since it is close to many of the major peaks such as Scafell, but relatively uncrowded  (the eastern side of Scafell, coming up from Windermere, is by comparison almost a motorway). On the Saturday, the peak was clear all day. However, rather than climb it, we did a route all the way round it, which included a fair amount of yomping, and some tough climbs here and there. The one up to the top of Bowfell just after lunch was pretty gruelling; but the view from the trig point was worth it, as you can see.

This year's walk was the first without our great friend Tom, who sadly took his own life last year. I was a bit apprehensive about how this would affect us, but it worked out fine. He was mentioned a lot, in a very positive way; and I am sure he was there with us in spirit.


The other rituals of the holiday, visiting my Mum (still going strong), and bringing back to Denmark Rose's lime marmalade and Branston Pickle, were also followed. I am already looking forward to next year.

Walter Blotscher