Sunday 14th September2014

A Walk

Hartsop Dodd

Leader: Heather Perrin

Report by Peter Flynn

Photos by Alison Smith, Peter Flynn &

Lauren Sarasini

Once in a blue moon a walk produces a real surprise. This one produced two. The first, for which you will have to refer to the photos,  was the launch of a highly colourful range of outdoor fashion, an all in one combination of over-garment, tent, and (though we did not see this demonstrated in practice) possible hang-glider.  Watch this space!  The second surprise was rather different – when Ian produced a) a Jew’s harp and b) a mouth organ. He was persuaded by a unanimous vote to give us a demonstration of both and to accompany our somewhat amateur rendition of various popular songs.  This was while we were sitting down for lunch,  and we did notice one or two other walkers giving us a wide berth. So, listen out to this space! The actual walk was lovely. Heather planned it and described it as a leaderless walk, and then turned up by car to take us up the first part,  the steep ascent of Hartsop Dodd,  over Caudale Moor to Stoneycove Pike.  She left us at the oddly named Threshthwaite Mouth as she had another commitment and we climbed up to Thornthwaite Beacon and along to Gray Crag, down to Hartsop Village and back to Patterdale. For some reason this is not a well frequented area but it is beautiful,  with stunning views all round with High Street on one side and Windermere and the Langdales in the distance.  We had the usual fascinating topics for discussion – inter alia we discussed best value funerals (thanks to cut rate proposals sent to one member) and what rank each of us would have had we been a military outfit. Thanks Heather for a beautifully planned walk and thanks to Ian for adding a dose of culture and entertainment. 

Peter