England: Lake District and Hadrian's Wall (1973)
In 1973, I (Jan) made with 3 friends a youth hostelling tour in the Lake District
in Cumbria, England. We walked from YH to YH, walking hills and dales.
The many YH's give a nice opportunity to climb mountains like Helvellyn and
Scafell Pike, while admiring the many surrounding lakes. It gives you an
impression how Scotland must look like.
A separate visit was made to Hadrian's Wall near Haltwistle.
The Tour
- High Cross YH, near Windermere, reached by train from Harwich and
London.
- Butharlyp How YH, in Grasmere, via Ambleside and Loughrigg Fell
(1099 ft).
- Helvellin/Greenside YH, near the Greenside Mine above Ullswater.
Near the mine we found nice minerals. From Grasmere we followed Old
Packhorse Road to Grisedale Hause, climbed Fairfield (2863 ft) and
went via Grisedale to Glenridding.
The next day we made a round tour over the top of the Helvellyn:
Sticks Pass, Raise (2889 ft), Lower Mann (3033 ft), Helvellyn (3116 ft),
Striding Edge. The walk along the Striding Edge ridge is superb.
- Keswick YH, via Sticks Pass and Stanah and finally reached by bus
due to the rain.
- Carlisle YH, "The Border City", by bus and train.
- Once Brewed YH, near Haltwistle at Hadrian's Wall. We walked
for a few hours on the wall, imaging the Picts climbing the walls.
- Hollows Farm YH, near Grange, again in the Lake District.
We reached the YH quite late after the long journey to return to the Lakes.
But late in the afternoon you have a pleasant view over Derwentwater.
- Black Sail Hut YH, in upper Ennerdale, reached via Honister Pass.
A nice small hut with two sleeping rooms: one for the boys and one
for the girls, with a big dog between them. From here we made a start to
the Scafell region, but due to the rain we only did a tour round Kirk Fell,
via Wasdale Head Hotel. Here we tried the darts game. Our south-african/dutch friend impressed all.
- Wasdale Hall YH, near Wastwater, via Black Sail Pass and Wasdale Head Hotel.
- Gillerthwaite YH, in lower Ennerdale, via Nether Beck brook and
Haycock (2618 ft). From Haycock we even could see the Isle of Man!
- Honister Hause YH, at Honister Pass (note the message for the
car drivers at the pass, before they have to descend: "You have been
warned!"). We reached the YH via a nice walk to the Red Pike (2479 ft) and
a visit to famous Buttermere.
- Butharlyp How YH, again, in Grasmere, via Dale Head (2473 ft),
where we found nice minerals again, Newlands Beck river, and Keswick, where
we catched a bus.
- Queens YH Waterhead, in Ambleside, via Rydall Water: a very easy
last walk.
- King George VI Memorial Hostel, in London, to visit London and
to leave England via Harwich the next day.
Some good related links
- Youth Hostels Association: England-Wales
- Scottish Youth Hostels Association
- Cumbria North of England UK Lake District Tourism and Travel
- Some walks in the Lake District
- Photographs of Wordsworth's Lake District
- English Lakeland Ramblers
- Hadrian's Wall Country
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