The temperature difference between County Durham and Buttermere was eleven degrees centigrade today – minus 5.5 at the bridge over the Wear at Witton and plus 5.5 at Buttermere. There were still flows of ice over the Whinlatter road, and the Buttermere – Newlands road was closed, which caused a bit of delay at the start.
But eventually, me, the dawg, the bro and his Dutch/Irish co-walker Rea (not sure if that’s the correct spelling) slithered off over the icy path to Scale Force and over the slightly less soggy bit on the left hand side of the Very Soggy bit to the steep little climb up to Floutern Cop – a mainly grassy but distinctive nobble which is a good place for lunch as it provides effective shelter from a nithering wind blowing over from the Isle of Man.
It was about this time that we realised that we didn’t have enough daylight for our original plan which was to climb Great Borne and Starling Dodd, along with three minor lumps, so we went for Banna Fell, which was on the original itinerary. Banna Fell is a nondescript bit of moor with a good view of the foot of Ennerdale. And then we retraced for a bit, but skirted around the side of Hen Comb by a descending traverse, then up for the bagging of Scale Knott, which is but a pimple on the side of melbreak, but with a very fab view of Grasmoor and Crummack Water. It was on this traverse, that Bruno demonstrated his fence-jumping skills, sailing over top wires and landing gracefully and without breaking step, but coming a cropper when crossing the beck by a misjudged leap to the insufficient extent of his retractable lead and receiving a chilly dunking in a small pond as a reward for his lack of planning and, frankly, for being a clever dick.
Back to Buttermere by the outward route – there’s a path from Scale Knott to Scale Force.
We did nine miles and about 2000 feet of upness, and bagged just three Birketts, bringing my Birkett Bagging Total to 482 Birketts out of 541. Unfortunately, the final digit (a “one”) will be Pillar Rock. I am unlikely to be able to bag this, partly because at this rate, it will take me another ten years to bag the rest of the unbagged ones, and partly because I iz a wimp when it comes to climbing about over beetling drops. So, I’ll never finish the Birketts. But am I bothered?
No.
Incidentally, the two pubs in Buttermere were firmly closed, but we did spot this sign outside one of them. Six quid for a bacon butty! Six quid!
Locally sourced bacon, though. And it’s in a rusty bun…. There must be a supermarket selling bacon and rusty buns nearby – probably in Cockermouth or Whitehaven…
Six quid…! Some kind of joke, surely….
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21 comments:
Locally sourced grilled bacon....so they don't even have to grill it themselves?
Tsk.
JJ
Maybe they get it from the other pub.... Not even proper "catering" English, though - see- no wayward apostrophes... sorry, apostrophe's
Failed the Hand Writing Test, though!........
Yes, Laura - a mixed style. Needs practice. No red star.
wow Mike, I was over in wasdale sat-tue eve. camping next to pub.
It was best walking I've done for a long time, frozen streams/ground but wall to wall blue sky and sun. for all 4 days.in the hotel they said it is the best weather they've had for 12 months! was going to go to buttermere and I'm glad I did'nt if both pubs were shut. see you in the hills lad.
And is that the "To Go" price as well - not even a plate and a sit down?
Poor Bruno. I can picture the sudden startled expression as his neck is jerked backwards.
Buttermere was pretty much deserted, Peter. I like it like that, though... although a pint at the end would have been nice.
We tried hard not to laugh, Alan...luckily, Bruno has a short memory/attention span and had forgotten all about it within seconds... It doesn't do to dwell on a mishap...
Six quid!?
I thought they were advertising for a bacon butty, not a whole cured porker and shares in a bakery! Surely, that's taking the pi ..... g!
You appear to be doing very well for milage so far this year. I've managed a measly 10 miles so far, and most of those on the flat. :-( Still, early days yet ...
That's right, Jules, sick squid... somebody must be buying them, though.... 85 miles so far, maybe some more tomorrow...
I think you've all missed the point - this is no ordinary Bacon Roll - this is a 'Classic'. I bet it has shredded iceberg lettuce and mustard and classy gear like that. Six quid's probably the discount rate.
482 Mike - blimey, can't you get time off for good behaviour?
Didn't somebody write an amusing internet article about bagging addiction a while back? Clearly you've taken the research a mite too seriously.
I read that article, Mark; it was baggist rubbish... Shouldn't be allowed. What's happened to human rights?
Ah, yes, a classic bacon roll. I must have one...
You should do the Anglesey coastal path sometime, Mike. There's a superb butty wagon near RAF Valley. The delicious bacon rolls are only £2.50 and are a favourite of Prince William. Best of all, for only 25p extra you can get "grilled tomatoe's" with it.
Two pounds fifty is more like it, Peter - and with grilled tomatoe's. That's proper catering talk , that i's.
Shocking. I wouldn't pay that ;O)
Hmm , yes, Llona, I thought that blackboard would be right up your street. Nobody in their right mind would pay sick squid for a bacon butty. They do them for less than a pound at St Caths in Crook. They're locally sourced, too (Bishop Auckland Asda)
Sick Squid for a proper bacon banjo.
Thats nowt, i know a place up there where beans on toast is £5.50. Scandal.
But most places within the NP are expensive. Parking being no exception.
Glad to hear it's warming up in the west.
I've seen Welsh rarebit (i.e. cheese on toast) offerred in Wales for around six or seven quid. You could have my body for half an hour for that. Tch...
I'm curious to know how old Bruno is Mike? I think I'm going to have to start to face up to the fact that my 10 year old boxer is gradually turning into a long walk every-other-day dog, rather than every day. She doesn't think so mind, but the tell-tale wooden leg gait the next day kind of gives it away. Cheers, Chrissie
Bruno is eleven, Chrissie. He's a bit stiff after a very long walk, but he's basically OK at the moment. He can still leap fences and stiles and plays and runs abut daft.
For now anyway....
It's Buttermere, so the tourists will pay the pretentious prices even if it is sneaked in from the unmentionable supermarket in Whitehaven !!
West Cumbria is so detached from these people that they don't even know it's there ... which makes me think about the times I used the place when I was "Wainwrighting", I must convert them into new money & check out how many Birketts I need to do. After all these years, I still haven't befriended a real rock climber who's prepared to take me out on one specific perfect summers day ... so in the meantime I pretend that I don't do tick lists !!
Pretentious, J? Moi? As they would say in Buttermere if there was anybody there, which there didn't appear to be..
Pillar Rock.. ah yes.. If you ever find a very patient climber with a supply of tranquilisers, let me know...
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