Plumgarths near Kendal - this would be our transport for the journey to Windermere
Members of the Online Fellwalking Club (OFC) start to assemble at Plumgarths
Peter Burgess who conceived and organised the day - a celebration of the life's work of the guidebook writer, A Wainwright.
Ready for the off!
Anyone can hire this coach - a Leyland Tiger built in 1946
All aboard. Amazingly, the smell of old buses and train carriages is still present on the old bus - VERY evocative to those of a certain age!
Peter Burgess would issue us with commemorative tickets
"One return to Windermere please"
1946 - the year of my birth. It is a moot point as to whether the bus or me have lasted best. I suspect the bus will still be at work when I am pushing up daisies!
Windermere after a rather slow and sedate journey
Orrest Head was where A Wainwright climbed to view the Lakeland Fells on his arrival in Windermere as a young man aged 23 on his first holiday. Thus began a lifelong love of the fells which culminated in the best selling guidebooks (still in print after all these years) and an M.B.E. for the man himself
start of the path up Orrest Head
it is a short walk mainly though woods
a glimpse of Windermere
young horses - too shy to come when I called.
Polly by the memorial tablets
The view from Orrest Head
The view over the lake towards the Langdale Pikes
Peter Burgess gave a short address about Wainright and two minutes silence was also held in memory of those who died in the terrible events in West Cumbria this week
walking off the back of Orrest Head
the dogs have spotted a bog - just the place to get dirty
over a stone stile
Peter sat on a log for a rest and forgot not to lean back!
Peter regained his equilibrium and his dignity whilst Mark Richards had a chuckle
back towards Windermere
This sign has been put here by the present owner of the cafe which is still there - and it still sells chips!
back to the bus
Excellent tea and cakes at Plumgarths. Mark Richards knew Wainwright, walked with him and is now a guidebook writer himself
tucking in to an excellent afternoon tea
Souvenirs of the trip - Wainwright beer, a commemorative programme, a pipe in memory of the great man and a bus ticket from Plumgarths near Kendal to Windermere. A wonderful day - thanks for organising it, Peter.
After afternoon tea four of us decided to climb Gummer's How near the south end of Windermere Lake. Here Neil leads Amber across the road, followed by Jo with Jodie with Richard bringing up the rear.
Looking over to Lakeside with its aquarium and the terminus of the Haverthwaite Railway
Gummer's How is an "outlying fell". The outlying fells are mainly (but not exclusively) lower fells - they are the fells which were NOT incuded in the original series of 7 guidebooks
We were not quite sure what this was. Obviously it collects water from a nearby beck but who, or what, will use the water? No lid on the tank which (to me) suggests it may not be for human consumption
higher up Gummer's How
the Path Faries have been hard at work!
Summit trig point in sight
Neil, Richard and Jo
A viewpoint over the lake
the foot of Lake Windermere - a great view to end an amazing day!
