Easter in the Northern Lakes (April 2026)

First of all many thanks to Nigel for his superb organisation and we were all so sorry he could not

attend the weekend himself. And to Susan Watts, who in spite of not being able to walk herself,

headed up the weekend with her customary efficiency.

St John’s-in-the-Vale Centre is an exceptionally good bunkhouse, two good sized rooms for

socialising with great views from picture windows on the first floor plus a well-fitted kitchen and

spacious dining area on the ground floor. Plenty of bathrooms also, and a drying room. The church

next door is lovely, at this time of year with a garden full of daffodils.

Churchyard with daffodils

I attended a service on Good

Friday where I met some of the local people and walked back to Thelkeld doing the 12 Stations of

the Cross, having a nice conversation with Susi, the minister. Along with some other Ibex members I

also attended the Easter Sunday service.

The weather this Easter did leave something to be desired. However Ibex can always adapt and

there were lots of good low level walks on offer, plus high level for the more intrepid.

Good Friday saw two attempts on Helvellyn, one led by David Watts and the other led by Jon

Sisman, which only got as far as Whiteside. However Cathy led a walk up Blencathra which achieved

its desired objective, going up Doddick Fell and down Blease Fell.

Typical Lakes weather

In those conditions, rather them

than me. Ann and Judith did a 13 mile low level walk to the east of the bunkhouse which did,

however, get up to 500 metres. The weather did clear a little bit late in the afternoon and saw Jackie

getting up High Rigg, a very attractive 1163 foot Wainwright just behind the bunkhouse, which your

writer spent most of the weekend looking at from the window hoping for an appropriate time to

climb on her own. More about that later.

The weather did not improve much on Saturday. However Ann led a group of 10 over High Rigg to

Thirlmere and back at low level so as to beat the bad weather due to come in. Several of the group

went to meet up with Jen Agate, a former member of the club who married and moved up north.

Jon, Jackie, and I did a low level but very attractive walk over to Castlerigg Stone Circle near to

Keswick, which is approximately 4500 years old. We had lunch at the climbing wall nearby, where

we could eat our own sandwiches at an indoor picnic table and watch the kiddiewinks have climbing

lessons under supervision. They also serve drinks and snacks. Definitely a fun place.

Several members, the Watts, Cathy, Dave and Gina, and Kylie went into Keswick and perused the

outdoor shops, also the Dog and Gun and the Fox Tap in the Keswick Brewery.

On Easter Sunday Patricia led a walk in the Bassenthwaite Lake area which had lots of takers.

There's always time for a summit photo

Dave

Lofthouse did a walk to the south towards Thirlmere including climbing Raven Crag, which also had a

lot of takers. Angela, Maria and Jo-Lorraine went to Grasmere and had tea and finished with a

lakeside walk.

As for me, I finally thought the time was right to attempt High Rigg on my own, with some sunshine

in the afternoon. I had also spotted a couple of easier paths (or so I thought) a bit down the road

turning left from the bunkhouse. However about ½ hour up there was a hailstorm and I came back

down. I did not like being on my own in poor visibility. Once down of course the weather cleared.

That is life in the mountains, I guess. High Rigg will have to wait for another time. I was consoled

somewhat by having enough time to do a sketch of the view from my window of the path up High

Rigg from immediately behind the bunkhouse.

Path up High Rigg

Many thanks to the catering teams led by Viv, Susan and Catriona, and to everyone who made the

effort to produce yet again a memorable Easter in the Lake District.

A final note, Viv and Jim stayed over an extra day and managed to get up Helvellyn, in the sunshine.

Success on Helvellyn

Damaris Steele