Photo Gallery - St Bees Weekend: 17^th-18^th Oct 2009 

Leaders: John Whitley, Charlie McGrillan & Gordon Stewart

Photo Gallery - Pics taken by May Trescowthick, Charlie McGrillan & Joe McCabe
 

EK News Article: Charlie McGrillan   The twin attractions of the chance to visit "England's Favourite view" at Wast Water and a ride on the Ravenglass & Eskdale Steam Railway drew Duncanrig Rambling Club south for a walking weekend based in the Cumbrian coastal town of St Bees. The glorious sunshine on the Saturday let the party appreciate the wild beauty of western lakeland as they did a leisurely five and a half mile route which took in the lakeside of Wast Water with its dramatic scree-covered slopes and a view of Scafell Pike, England's highest peak, before turning inland through dappled woodland to an alfresco refreshment outside the Screes Inn. Both walks on Sunday began with a memorable train ride on the mini railway from Ravenglass known locally as the "La'al Ratty". The main walk, from Dalegarth, took an 8.5-mile route alongside the tree-line River Esk for 3 miles before the steady climb on the increasingly muddy trail up the 650 feet of Muncaster Fell. Despite the height, in contrast to the previous day's bright sunshine, the damp misty conditions afforded only the occasional atmospheric view of a nearby top. The 6.5-mile alternative, meanwhile, from Eskdale Green,  followed a lower route through the grounds of Muncaster Castle to Ravenglass. A visit en route to the Owl Centre and the site of a Roman bath house provided added interest before the 2 groups met for a drink in the Ratty Arms before heading for a meal in Carlisle.