Ski Club of Manchester May Walks Weekend, The Coledale Round — Saturday 17th May 2025

Reporter: Brian Beardsall

The weekend started ordinarily enough. Dave had organised two good walks, primed us about the routes, fitness etc. We were staying at the newly refurbished Middle Ruddings, now ‘The Ruddings Hotel’, the weather was settled and there was a good turnout of walkers and dogs. However, the weekend turned out to be quite eventful on both days.

The start time was advanced to give us plenty of time to complete the walk. We set off briskly from the hotel, climbing up through the newly landscaped garden and taking the upper road to Thornthwaite and then gently up through Whinlatter forest park to the Cycle hire and visitor centre. Unfortunately, the two of us bringing up the rear lost sight of the advanced group and couldn’t work out which path to follow and having no phone signal meant we couldn’t contact the others. We gradually found our way up but not before the lead group had retraced their steps and sent out scouts. The result was the delay meant the remaining time was too short for all the group to follow the original plan and so the shorter route was taken for the whole party.

The rest of the walk was fairly uneventful. We continued up to Grisedale Pike where we stopped for a rather blustery lunch break. after which three people continued on to Hopegill Head, Sand Hill and down from Coledale Hause.

On the return leg we descended the steep path down Grizedale Pike, over Sleat How and Kinn through the forest to return to Braithwaite A few of our group peeled off to return to their camp site, but most called in at the Coledale Inn for a pint or two before returning to The Ruddings, with ample time for dinner.

Thank you to Dave and Vanessa for planning and leading an excellent day out (and for their patience!). Also, to Steve for the Eccles cakes at lunch.