Lake District

31 August 1995

Chris, Stuart and Neil on top of the Pudding Stone in Boulder Valley, on the ascent of The Old Man of Coniston, Stephen's first British mountain, after a taste was gained by a rather warmer ascent of Montgo in Spain during the summer.

Stuart and Low Water

View southwards from the Old Man, with part of Coniston Water visible.

Stuart brewing up while Chris inspects the map.

Stuart offers hot drinks to new found friends on top of the mountain! Dow Crag is prominent behind.

Stuart on some of the summit rocks of Dow Crag

Looking south from Dow Crag over Buck Pike. We spent some time up here looking at the world and pondering how the curvature of the surface of the Earth affects long bridges.

Total walk distance 13.38km, height gain 975m, time taken 6 hours (including stops).

1 September 1995

After parking near Birks Bridge in the Duddon Valley, we walked up Mosedale and into Eskdale.

We camped near the bottom of Cam Spout, and are seen here washing up after dinner.

2 September 1995

After reaching the summit of Scafell Pike via Little Narrowcove, here we stopped for lunch on the side of Scafell, en route to the Foxes Tarn ascent.

Total walk distance 24.53km, height gain 1620m, time taken 1½ days.

3 September 1995

Consiton Old Man from Peel Island

Peel Island was the inspiration for Wild Cat Island in Arthur Ransome's "Swallows and Amazons" books, and was the scene for the film made of Swallows and Amazons. Here is the Landing Place.

Neil and the Secret Harbour - not as secret in real life, sadly, but still fun. The makers of the film did a good job in making the entrance to the harbour look much more difficult than it is.

The secret harbour and the island.

Neil and Stephen approach the Landing Place where Chris and Stuart await.

More visitors to the island.