The Keswick Mountain Festival is continuing to be a success bringing visitors into the town to take part in competitive and non-competitive events. When you are not walking enjoy the Adventure Base on Crowe Park as well as the varied talks and other evening entertainment. This was the first year with a dedicated camp site and live music on Crowe Park in the evenings.

Click here to go to the Keswick Mountain Festival Site for full information about the event

KR Guided Walks had three walks per day throughout the Festival including some new ones

Here are the walks Skye and I went on.

On Friday we enjoyed a delightful walk on the west side of Grasmere but with views across to Langdale too.Taking a well used path from Grasmere up the Easedale Valley we climbed by waterfalls to Easedale Tarn where in Victorian days you could buy a cup of tea! On a smaller path now (with helpful stepping stones across the boggy bits) we strolled along above the tarn and then climbed a rocky path eventually reaching a broad and grassy ridge. From here it was an undulating walk with superb views 12km distance with 650m ascent.

On Saturday we climbed Blencathra by my favourite route. We met outside the White Horse Inn in Scales from where we walked round the base of Blencathra to reach the start of Halls Fell Ridge. This route gives about half a mile of fairly continuous scrambling on a knife edge ridge (mostly avoidable if you must!) bringing you out right on the summit. From here we passed the white stone crosses on the way to Atkinson Pike and peeped over the edge at Sharp Edge before exploring Bannerdale Crags and returning to Scales. Distance is about 10km with 850m ascent.

Sunday saw us climbing steeply through woods above Stonethwaite mainly on a stone laid path. Grassy paths followed leading to Bessyboot above Tarn at Leaves. With views in all directions the walk to Glaramara was a delight wending between rocky outcrops and tiny tarns with hardly any other walkers using this approach. Our descent was by way of Thorneythwaite Fell on a more frequented path. Distance about 13km and 850m ascent.

The Cumberland Ale 2008 Keswick Mountain Festival took placefrom 14th to 18th May

The sun shone and everyone had a good time

Visitors had the opportunity to try a wide range of outdoor activities from walking to climbing;scrambling to photography; kayaking to gill scrambling. You could learn more about the history of the area with mine walks and stone wall building or practice with map and compass or go Geocaching. There was the chance to compete in the first Keswick Triathlon, cycle Trail Quest or the Lattrigg fell race. In addition there were plenty of talks and films about mountaineers and other adventurers in this country and abroad. We all enjoyed hearing from Julia Bradbury about producing the Wainright TV series on the Lakeland Fells. In fact there was something for everyone!

Reminders of Cathy's 2008 Mountain Festival Walks

I took groups out most days. On Wednesday we took the bus to Seatoller and then had a glorious walk in perfect weather along the Borrowdale valley above Johny's Wood, up through the old Rigghead Quarries to High Spy. After Maiden Moor we dropped down to the Newlands Valley and round to Hawes End to catch the launch back to Keswick. Lots of sunshine but not too hot - a super day

striding along Borrowdale	on top of High Spy

waiting for the chatterers?

On Friday Alan Hinkes joined a group climbing Great Gable from Honister Pass. In 2007 we had to abort this walk due to high winds but today was ideal walking weather and everyone enjoyed the scrambly outing over Great Gable followed by a grassy stroll over Brandreth and Grey Knotts

enjoying alan hinkes company above Honister Pass	alan enjoying a break at the end of Moses Trod before climbing the North West ridge of Great Gable
all of us on the summit of Great Gable.	descending from Great Gable to Windy Gap

On Saturday I led a Ladies only walk sponsored by Asolo up Skiddaw with a free pair of boots for one lucky participant. We took the bus round to Mirehouse and after walking through Dodd Wood we climbed to Carlside Tarn by way of Ullock Pike and Longside Edge - one of my favourite ways to climb Skiddaw. By now it was cool, breezy and misty with no shelter for lunch! By the time we reached the summit there was a strong wind and thick cloud. We descended rapidly back to Carlside and down to Mikllbeck. A pleasant ramble through the fields back to Keswick concluded the day.

looking west down the Ullock pike ridge	windy and misty on the top of Skiddaw

down out of the cloud on Carlside

On Sunday I took a group up Blencathra. Some were keen to climb Sharp Edge, others wanted to avoid it! So, together we climbed to Scales Tarn and then split into two groups with most coming with me up Sharp Edge while the others climbed Scales Fell and met us at the top. As it was a clear day the groups were in sight of one another as they climbed and everyone enjoyed their own challenge! After lunch at the summit we walked along the main ridge and descended Blease Fell

beginning the traverse of Sharp Edge	Sharp Edge - carefully does it!
striding along the top of the Edge!	all together again after the climb

Strolling along Blencathra's summit ridge

For 2007 Keswick Mountain Festival photos click here

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Design by Cathy Colam