Summer Trip 2025

Disclaimer! - I write this report over a month after the trip happened. Apologies if I have mis-remembered or forgotten anything that happened!

Great Langdale 2025

For many, day 1 of our Summer Trip started slowly, and with headaches, after attending the Summer Ball the night before. Despite this, everyone was keen to get going for 4 days in the Lake District. A post-pandemic record of three MPVs and a selection of cars set off from Bath for a largely trouble-free journey.

Camp was quickly set-up with over 20 tents and two event shelters, which most people sheltered within to avoid the intermittent rain showers. Some hardy folk thought this would be a great time for a nice run! Robin, Tom and Joseph took an interesting route up the Pike of Stickle before descending a “serious” scree slope. All three miraculously survived. For the orienteers, the trip began with a short run around the Langdale valley near the campsite. Another group, followed by a large walking contingent, ascended Side Pike and ran out to see Lingmoor Tarn. Everyone successfully returned to camp for some well-earned dinner and a good night’s sleep.

The morning brought a warm, dry and clear day. After gathering to sing Happy Birthday to Sam, groups set off for a great day out.

The orienteers gained some extra members for a walk up Harrison Stickle stopping at Stickle Tarn where they hunted for good stones to skim. In the afternoon, they managed to encourage the non-orienteers in the group to have a go at it on Lingmoor Fell, finishing with a paddle in Blea Tarn on their way back to the campsite.

Anna led a hike with a small group up the Crinkle Crags. Taking the ascent slow and steady, the group reached the summit, Long Top (859m), at 2pm. After a lunch break, the group started their descent via Red Tarn, and returned to the campsite with buckling knees at around 4:30pm.

Another walking group had a longer day out, summitting Scafell Pike via Angle Tarn and Ill Crag. Returning over Bow Fell, the group found a waterfall to cool the feet in. It was at this point the mood improved when someone suggested we get pies from the pub for dinner.

The climbers spread themselves out through the valley. Some multipitch trad climbing was enjoyed on Bow Fell while the boulderers found some bouldering near Chapel Stile. Too much was happening for a detailed account of everything but everyone had a great day out experiencing some Lake District good-ness.

That evening we were warned of strong winds and heavy rain forecast overnight. As a precaution we took down the shelters, put out more tent guy lines and went to bed. Some of our campers quickly learnt that the campsite owners had failed to warn us of the section of field that floods in heavy rain. It turns out that people prefer to sleep in MPVs than flooded tents! The situation was quickly sorted, with kit moved to the drying room and tents repitched.

More heavy rain forecast for the morning forced us to go café-ing and shopping in Ambleside. We discovered a range of fantastic outdoor shops, and that the forecast was wrong. With the rain pushed back into the afternoon we decided to layer up and get on with it. Walking groups returned to the campsite from Ambleside, with high and low route options. Another group of intrepid adventurers drove back and embarked on a soggy scramble on Pavey Ark.

In an attempt to avoid the rain, the orienteers went out early for a run before heading to the pub to wait out the weather. They played card games - with some chips - before walking to Skelwith Bridge, where multiple rope swings were found and so they were obligated to test them out. For tea that evening, they were having chilli but the spice tolerance differences in the group became apparent when Joel was put in charge of the spices. The vast number of wraps came in useful to tone down some of the heat.

Once again, despite the rain, wind and cold, I think everyone had a lovely time! A special mention must go to the high-level walking group who were in such good spirits that even Ben Mclaren was spotted singing at one point near Belles Knott.

Once everyone had returned to camp and eaten dinner, it was decided that we should avoid the midges and make the most of newly dried-out atmosphere by going to the pub. Once again, our weather predicting abilities transpired to be less than satisfactory with a torrential downpour starting as we arrived.

Day 4 was dry (despite rain being forecasted). Camp was struck quickly, with most of us heading to Ambleside again. Leaving a few members to sample the cafés, we embarked on a walk up Wansfell Pike. More people decided to visit the Stockghyll Force waterfall, leaving an intrepid group of keen beans to continue to the blustery summit. Only stopping for long enough to take some photos and admire the view of Lake Windermere, we quickly turned to head back downhill. This group also managed to return to Ambleside via the waterfalls.

Once again, thanks for reading, and thanks to Alexandra Garnett and Anna Jamieson for their contributions to the orienteering and walking sections of this report!

See you in 2025/26,

Adam Parsons

Welfare and Inclusivity Officer