Eskdale, 28—30 October 2016

For our first weekend trip of Michaelmas, we set off from Cambridge to Boot, a small village within the glacial valley and civil parish of Eskdale. The weather in the Lake District is always unpredictable but we were hoping that we’d see some sunshine. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case.

We awoke on Saturday to horrific weather. However, this didn’t dampen our spirits and everyone was keen to make the most of the day and embark on a long and pleasant walk in the hills. Most groups chose to ascend Scafell and Scafell Pike – the highest mountain in England at 978 metres above sea level. Whilst there was low visibility and persistent rain, everyone felt a great sense of achievement at the summit and enjoyed the day overall.

The evening was filled with fun and games, including pumpkin carving and apple bobbing to celebrate Halloween. Some delicious meals, which were prepared collectively, were also enjoyed. It wouldn’t be a CUHWC trip without singing from the infamous songbook… some promising talent was heard! Finally, the majority of hillwalkers made their way to the Boot Inn for a pint.

The wet weather cleared in time for Sunday. The majority of people wanted to go on a relatively shorter walk and there were even some who chose to go fell running! For many, the day involved steep inclines, ridge walking and swimming in a tarn.

After a long drive, we were back in Cambridge ready for Monday lectures. It was a fantastic weekend that was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone that came along. CUHWC will have to return to Eskdale in the near future… maybe we’ll see the views from Scafell Pike next time!