A few changes to the way we do things

We will no longer be standing outside the Moot Hall in Keswick just waiting to see who turns up for the walks willy nilly but will expect you to book us before the day. This gives us more flexibility over where we meet for the walk. For instance, we might offer a walk up Scafell which means we can meet you at the starting point in cars. We still intend to keep as environmentally friendly as we can but we want to be able to go further afield and that means using cars or car sharing sometimes. All walks will have the usual leaders who will inform you fully what to expect when you book and you still only pay on the day of the walk.

You can book by email or telephone and you contact the leader for the walk.
Contact information is on this blog and it will be on the website too with a bookings form.

Please get in touch if you want clarification on any point or comment and we will get back to you.

30th Year Celebrations

It was one week ago yesterday that we went up Helvellyn via Raise Beck, Dollywagon and Nethermost Pike onto the summit for our photo shoot before descending down over Whiteside and arriving at the bus stop opposite the Kings Head pub at Thirlspot. I know some of you wanted to come along but could not get away from work so these photos are for you.

Well I had better start showing you some of the photos, but those amongst you who are sharp eyed will have noticed that KR is now on Facebook where if you take a look, you will see the official photo shoot taken by Tom our photographer enlisted for the day. The following photos were taken by Pete and are perhaps more random.....

First up we have the view after we had left Grisedale Tarn and started to go up the stone pathway towards the top of Dollywagon. But who is this chap making his sporty way up the steps; hands in pockets tells you he is super fit........

Carlisle United Football Club hiker

If you take a close look at all the photos posted here and on Facebook you might discover who this mystery Carlisle player is..............mmm

Next, a photo taken on the top of Dollywagon of a hiker who came all the way from Wales to celebrate and join us for our very special day, but a Welsh accent? hmm

Some more of our walkers enjoying the wonderful views and generally standing around and having a rest after that climb up from Grisedale Tarn. We did not hang around for too long though as the wind was cold and more than one person began to wish they had brought along a spare pair of gloves, luckily for them I had 3 pairs with me as I have been caught out in the past with cold fingers on a summer's day.

The view back towards Dollywagon from the ridge leading to Nethermost

Pete and Bella on the summit of Helvellyn

Of course we finally arrived at the summit and had a bite before taking yet more photos. The cold wind was still with us but the sun did pop out as you can see by the shadows.

Posing for the photographer

On the summit I was glad of those warm gloves.

We enjoyed some Elderflower cordial before we set off back down the ridge where we were due to meet up with Alison who had been delayed all morning. She was important because she was carrying up the celebratory carrot cake and lemon drizzle cake which was our thanks to our loyal customers.

Alison turned up just before we reached the summit of Whiteside and we all enjoyed our cake before descending down to the bus stop. I think the bus driver was not too amused at seeing 20 people waiting for his packed bus though..........

If you want to see more photos of this memorable day, go and click on the new facebook button.

Keswick Rambles Website reminder

Keswick Rambles website now has the programme on it so go to http://www.keswickrambles.org.uk/ if you want to find some exciting lakes guided walks to go on this year in the company of other liked minded souls. We have a very diverse clientele, anyone from ex coal miners to barristers, we have many folks from the medical profession who enjoy our walks too, including a radiologist, an optometrist and even a cardiologist! not to mention a dentist.  Gosh try saying that lot without getting tongue tied, but what does it all mean I hear you saying, well basically we have a good day out on the hills but the conversation is scintillating. Mind you I try not to ask dentists too many deep questions, I know some of them don't like probing......

Seriously, we take all sorts of wonderful people out and they have such interesting life stories, for instance I once had a wonderful conversation with an ex fireman, I learnt a lot about explosive gases that day.........

Then there was the day I had the top history professor coming out with me up Bleaberry Fell, well my degree in history was only a BA so I was worried about putting my foot in it, but I needn't have been he was a charming man and another person on the walk that day was a taxman....so you see, there is never a dull conversation to be had when you are out with Keswick Rambles you never know who will turn up next. It could be YOU!