When I retired from work I decided to start another round of the Wainwright tops to provide a bit of focus to my hill wanderings. Last week's BOOTboys outing to Harter Fell (BB0924) and Green Crag has left me with 9 W's to do.

I have deliberately left one 'W' from each book. The reason for this will (weather and fitness allowing) become clear later this year.

I therefore needed to finish off the other 2 (Whin Rigg and Illgill Head).

Bower House Inn

Eskdale holds many memories for us. My first real introduction to the mountains happened there in late October 1970.

At the time I lived in York and was working for Rowntrees.

They were still very much influenced by the Quaker traditions of the founding family and thought a lot about the needs of their employees.

One of the things they did was to send one boy and one girl each year to the Outward Bound School.

For some unknown reason I applied to go. More amazingly I was accepted and was sent for a month to the centre in Eskdale.

It changed my life.

A young Bryan

Shackleton E206

Shackleton-

A patrol which was split by a violent North and South battle.  They had a reputation for trouble.

They had the notorious "Dylan" who evoked roars of alughter whenever he appeared in public.  Admittedly they won nothing, but this was not their fault, it was just that all the instructors were against them.

However the one thing they were good at was saying notiing whilst enduring manfully the cold shower.  However this was only because you got out quicker that way.

Best Wishes to Toddy who was always there when needed.

Patrol Rep Bry Hardaker

But on Wednesday evening Liz talked me into going in. We found our way into the reception room and I explained to the girl that I'd been there 40 years previously and could I have a look around.

She pointed to a set of books on a shelf behind her and said "Do you want to have a look for your photo?"

I certainly did.

After a little searching I found it. Liz though was looking at the report underneath.

It was signed by me!

It seems even then I had assumed control and been appointed Patrol Rep - a fact I had no memory of whatsoever! It would also seem that even then I had a "North v South" fixation!

The lady very kindly did me a photocopy.

We then had a wander around the grounds. There was the lake where I'd had to capsize a canoe in the freezing water - quite daunting as I was not a swimmer. When asked at application time whether I could swim a length I said yes. They didn't ask me how many times I had to hold the side on the way!

Wednesday dawned sunny and clear and following a full English breakfast we set off from the Bower House. The early part of the route was on tarmac past the old mill on the River Mite before turning uphill into the lovely woodland of the Mitredale Forest.

A steady climb eventually brought us out onto the open fell. The views now opened out with the seaward view being particularly impressive. The Isle of Man was clearly visible and only Calder Hall intruded on the sweep of remote coastal scenery.

Mitredale Forest Trail

Calder Hall and the Isle of Man from Whin Fell

Looking down Wasdale

Looking down to the scree

Good viewpoint!

Trying to raise the pole

Flying the flag - at half mast!

I suppose it beats travelling to London!

Cloud was beginning to close in a bit so we took a quick team photo before beginning the descent to Burnmoor Tarn.

It was a pretty steep, but grassy, descent which took some time as Liz was finding the going difficult.

As well as some loss of confidence following her broken arm earlier this year, she was also having problems with pain in her neck.

But she gritted her teeth and battled on.

Team  Photo with Great Gable and Scafell behind

Harter Fell and Green Crag from Burnmoor Tarn

A bit of careless navigation on my part took us a bit below the path we needed (I blamed it on the diversion we had to make around the cows and calves!) but we were soon back on track and heading down the delightful trail which brought us into Boot.

And a much changed Boot it was too.

For one thing the Burnmoor Inn is no more.

It's now called the Boot Inn and no longer looks the sort of place that would have Big Josie as a landlady!

The former Burnmoor Inn

Liz on the train home

Linda, Bryan, Les and Ruth, Harter Fell 1972

One final personal thought to finish on.

The trip also brought back happy memories of holidays spent with the Les and Linda Beavis (and daughter Ruth when she arrived).

Sadly Les passed away - far too soon - a year ago this week, so he was not far from our thoughts as we wandered amongst his favourite places.

Harter Fell still looks good from Boot, Les!

 Bryan, 13th August 2009

BH0901

Thursday 13th August 2009

Distance:

10.1 miles

Height climbed:

2,313 feet

Wainwrights:

Whin Rigg, Illgill Head

Comitibus:

Bryan, Liz