A brief glimpse at Keswick Mountain Festival 2010

It was certainly a festival to remember. The mist was well down for the first day and the walk was undertaken with great care by our leaders. The first photo shows us on Haystacks when the misty conditions all the way to the top suddenly dispersed to give good views and visibility so the cameras could come out at last.

Day 2 and the mist was worse so I gave out instructions that no one was to drop out for 'comfort stops' without telling us and with good reason especially on the Helvellyn massif. You can judge for yourself if you would have felt comfortable in the mist on your own by looking at the photo.

Day 4 was brilliant sunshine all the way from Grasmere to Keswick, infact we had to take along the suncream and plenty of liquids because it was so hot on Heron Crag. Once we dropped over Greenup Edge to join the path down past Lining Crag the breeze kicked in and it was a huge relief.

The last day was Haystacks again and it was a complete contrast to the Wednesday when we did not see a thing on the way up because this time the views were outstanding. The photo shows us approaching Haystacks after passing the Brandreth fence corner: in the distance is Scafell with it's distinctive nodged ridge whilst in the left middle distance is Great Gable.

A Scottish Adventure

Monday May 10 at o900, the Fort William bound sleeper drops Pete, Lyn and Bella at Corrour Halt on Rannock Moor. The railway provides the only access to the station, which stands about a kilometer from the West end of Loch Ossian; there's no motor road...it's a lonely spot.


It was a seven kilometre walk along the track beside Loch Ossian to Corrour Lodge at the far end of the loch. In the far distance on the right, still patched with snow, you can see the hills towards which we're bound. The walk out and back over the two Munros to the south of the loch was twenty kilometres in all and we knew we had to be back at the station for the return train before half past six...It was a cold crisp morning and there was no time for dawdling, it was a good track so we stepped out and reached the foot of the far hills in an hour and a half.
Six hundred metres above Loch Ossian; Lyn approaches the crest of the ridge of Meall Nathrach Mor which means "hill of the big adder"; she didn't dawdle when I told her that!
From the cairn on Meall Nathrach Mor the ground rises towards Sgor Choinnich 929, in the background, this is a top rather than the Munro itself which lies beyond.

Looking SW towards Carn Dearg 941m from the upper slopes of Sgor Choinnich.
View from the summit cairn of Sgor Choinnich with Schiehallion in the distance to the SE, beyond Loch Ericht.


From Sgor Choinnich we descended to the 800m Bealach nan Sgor before climbing to the summit of the first Munro of the day...Sgor Ghaibhre 955m "Peak of the goats".

View NE from the upper slopes of Carn Dearg with Ben Alder seen beyond between the twin peaks of Sgor Choinnich and Sgor Gaibhre.


We descend the W ridge of Carn Dearg through the snow flurries towards Loch Ossian far below.


We're in plenty of time for the train and the sun has returned to warm us as we stroll along the old track that leads west towards Corrour beyond the head of the loch in the distance.
The "Corbett" Leum Uilleim 906m forms a backdrop to the last mile of the walk...Corrour station is just out of sight round the last bend in the road.
Corrour Station 5pm. The Scottish Youth Hostel Association have recently re opened the Station House at Corrour; this is on the left out of the picture but don't expect a cup of tea there on a Monday, as we did, it will be closed all afternoon!

Keswick Mountain Festival Latest News!

Haystacks, Helvellyn, Gable Girdle, & Helm Crag to Stonethwaite WalksGood news for anyone who has booked the above walks with us during the Keswick Mountain Festival. We have been trying hard to find some sponsorship for the walks this year ourselves and we have been offered the following from Blacks.


A Blacks representative will be coming on Pete and Lyn's Keswick Mountain Festival walks and will be giving a 25% discount card to those participating to use against any purchases over £50. He will also be available to discuss or to answer any questions in relation to outdoor gear.

Layout improvements

If you look under the title photo you will notice I now have a couple of headings for the August and September walks. Just click on the writing and up comes a new page with the walks for that month. To return to the main page click on Home. Please note that Alison and Halle have yet to add their walks to the list, so some more will appear to fill in the gaps and once again I will post these in grey so you know which they are.