Our first weekend trip of the year was to the Whitehorse Inn at the foot of Blencathra. 

We left Newcastle Friday night and drove into the sunset. Before settling down for a few pints at the bunkhouse.

Saturday morning we headed for the Honnister Pass where we had a lovely day of walking in sun, rain, snow, wind and hail – With many rainbows spotted. The long group’s route took us up over Grey Knotts and Brandreth giving amazing views over Ennerdale and Buttermere, before ascending Green Gable and having a short scramble up to the clouded summit of Great Gable where we descended out of the snow into the sun on Kirk fell. Then after a fun downhill gully scramble we arrived in beautiful Ennerdale where we saw the lonely Black Sail Hut youth hostel as well as admiring the views back up the valley to the now clear Great Gable and Kirk fell. The rain and hail set in once more as we ascended Wainwright’s favourite fell, Haystacks, but we got brilliant views after when we were returning back to the Honnister pass in the lowering sun. Even going past Dubs hut the site of one of the first residential trips the society completed in the 1970’s.

After returning to the bunkhouse we all enjoyed Jacob’s wonderful chilli and some more relaxing beers and drinking games before heading to bed.

On Sunday we set off to summit Blencathra and enjoyed fabulous weather. Scales tarn was very refreshing* and the brave souls that climbed sharps edge had an exhilarating time whilst the others waited by the summit of Blencathra watching the Kestrels. We then descended via Blease fell and returned to the Whitehorse Inn via a couple of nice scrambles in the valley before returning to Newcastle.” – Josh