Enjoyrider: Definitely the final scent of summer....

Ullswater

How lucky are we?.

Promises from weather forecasters of an ‘Indian summer’ every year never materialise, but 2014 has been a fantastic exception, this has possibly been the best September I can recall.

Even the grim reality of the immediate future in Tory hands couldn’t dampen my enthusiasm for a wee Lake district adventure the day after the Referendum, indeed, it helped take my mind off it. So, off I headed to Ambleside to meet the Sauchie massive – Aron and Charlie, and my mate Graham from the club. The plan had been to ride Grizedale and Walna scar on the Saturday, but Klaus had been down with Des the week before and had said that the descent down into Torver from Walna is still gash due to the resurfacing a couple of years back.

Plans were changed, and I suggested a ride straight from the front door of the YH, a familiar one as I’d did most of it twice already this year, but the guys hadn’t ridden any of it, so were keen. The Kentmere horseshoe and Nan Bield is a smashing high level route, with quite a bit of hike-a-bike in the first half, but some fantastic riding from the top of Nan Bield, and also adding in Staveley head fell and the short, yet grin inducing joys of Jenkins Crag, made for a cracking day.

It was after 5pm by the time we rolled back into Ambleside, showered, and headed for the best Pizza in the lakes, at Dodds.

Next day, we changed our plans somewhat, from the longer route that takes in Great Dodd, Helvellyn and down off Dollywaggon Pike, instead opting for the straight up option of Keppel Cove, well that was the plan! :-0

What seemed like a nice gesture by some friendly walkers, holding a gate open for us at the start of the off road climb up past the Helvellyn YH, ended up with us taking entirely the wrong route up. We never really realised this until the path levelled just before the scramble up Swirrel edge became visible. Nearly at the summit anyway, and after I’d got the usual ribbing for my guiding failure, we despatched lunch, turned round and descended the way we’d came. It actually turned out to be a really good trail, followed by another wee diversion along a footpath, and a cracking drop down onto the back of Glenridding. Real chips and sunshine to follow, brilliant stuff.

More pics to follow, as they're on my phone.