Easter Camp 2005
Easter Camp 2005 was an all round excellent camp, just outside what is probably the capital of outdoors shops in the UK, Ambleside in the Lake District. We camped within walking distance of the small touristy town, on a campsite which is actually the grounds of Rydal Hall, approximately 1 mile from Ambleside towards Grasmere. Easter camps last usually 3 nights, or a long weekend, but as usual the weekend was packed with activities including a hike up Scafell Pike. Climbing mountains seems to have become a tradition since the Network began in 2004, as we have tackled Skiddaw, Snowdon, and Scafell Pike on various camps since the network began. Anyway, after a fairly short drive up towards the Lake District, we stopped at the same cafe in Windermere as we did last year, in Windermere. This time we had a trailer carrying all our excessive luggage (ok, my frame tent, which I insist on taking to every camp...) and luckily it hadn't given into the power of Michael's Focus by this time, which was a relief to us all. After breakfast, we headed on towards Ambleside, after a stop at an aquaruim near Lake Windermere.
Eventually, we headed on towards the campsite to set up. The campsite was different to any we had seen before, in that it actually had occupants other than ourselves! There was still plenty of room though, and we were allocated a great pitch with plenty of space, and nice views, definitely a site I would recommend. After setting up, no doubt we had various tunes playing at the time, we must have cooked tea or something, but as i'm writing this almost half a year after the event I can't really remember! The weekend involved a visit to a slate mine (Honiston Slate mine) a hike up Scafell Pike and visits to various places, including Keswick, and a few visits to Ambleside to explore the outdoors shops! The camp was a great success, and ran very smoothly indeed, even the weather was on our side.
Go....and...stand....in the RIVER!!
Anyway, a few pics...
A Few Photos:
The campsite, Rydal Hall near Ambleside
Site again
This is in fact a photo of the sky - taken from the campsite. The weather
was extremely good!
And at night...
The HardKnott Pass - on our way to Scafell
Scafell Pike Hike 1
Scafell Pike Hike 2
Scafell Pike Hike 3
The gravity anomaly room in Keswick...
Honister Slate Mine
Michael and Adam ready to explore the mine
Overall, it was a great camp in a great part of the country. The weather was also great, and so was the campsite - one we definitely would recommend, and hope to return to in the future.
Andrew Brownson