By Steve Howard
The Clubs annual weekend away in the Lake District took place from Friday 17th September till Sunday 19th September 2021, the SFWC has been staying at Glaramara Hotel near Seatoller for 30 years now. This year saw 25 members staying the weekend, for a few members it was their first time.
On Friday 17th September 2021, Steve Howard led a walk joined by 4 other members of the club, starting at Kirkland in Cumbria which was a 9.05 mile circular heading via Cross Fell at 893 meters. This plateau is the highest point along the Pennine Way National Trail and highest summit in England outside the Lake District. The weather started off dry and sunny but once we started to climb across Kirkland Fell we were met by low cloud and drizzle. Once we reached the plateau along the Pennine Way, the visibility was very poor, cold and windy. We took lunch out of the wind at the shelter on Cross Fell, watching other walkers appear out of the low cloud, when by a miracle the cloud disappeared and the sun came out for the rest of the walk.
Another walk was led by Pauline Hall, which was a 8 mile circular from Keswick via Walla Crag.
On Saturday 18th September 2021, Carol & Alan Abdy led 19 members of the club on a 6 mile circular from Grasmere heading via Alcock Tarn, with some steep climbing before we reached the Tarn. Lunch was taken at the Tarn and then it was a steady walk back downhill to Grasmere. The weather was similar to Friday, low cloud and drizzle, but by lunchtime it turned warmer. Once back in Grasmere, refreshments where available, before our drive back to the Glaramara Hotel.
Tim Darley & Simon Reed led the remaining 4 members on a much tougher walk from Glaramara, heading via Great Gable.
On Sunday 19th September 2021, Pauline Hall was going to lead a walk from Keswick to Threlkeld along the disused railway, but we found out that over 2,500 cyclists on an event from Grasmere and a half marathon from Keswick were taking place, so parking may have been difficult. It was therefore decided to do a more local walk from Glaramara, so Steve Howard led 14 members on a 5 mile circular via Castle Crag. The weather was dry and sunny, but just before the finish we were met with heavy rain.
The Club has booked into Glaramara from 16th September to 18th September 2022, where we will be as asking for deposits in March 2022.
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