Chapel Stile Hut Weekend, January 2008

January 25th and we are attending our first hut of 2008 – TOC H at Chapel Stile. For the club, the timing of this one is well chosen as it gives us an opportunity to celebrate Burns Night in traditional fashion – haggis, neeps, and tatties, and the occasional kilt, after a day on the fells.

This hut, if you can call it that, is located at Chapel Stile and is “modern” by hut standards. Whilst there isn’t a comfy lounge area like some of the other huts, or an open fire or pot belly stove, nor are the seats comfortable for long periods of time (wooden benches), it does have good showers and the location more than makes up for any shortcomings.

By the time you arrive on Friday, be it in the afternoon or late evening, you will most likely have driven through Windermere and Ambleside, taking the winding Great Langdale road, turning off at Skelwith Bridge. As you pass through Elterwater, you start to see why this area is so popular with walkers and climbers alike, and you’re soon at the hut. Parking is a bit “cosy” in the small car park so best to arrive early, otherwise your car is stuck until Sunday morning when we all depart.

Once you’ve arrive, unloaded, and sought out your bunk for the weekend, it’s either a gentle walk around Chapel Stile, a stroll to Elterwater and the Britannia pub, or a walk to the Wainwright Pub close to the village. Most opt for the pubs to start the weekend off on a good footing – being away with friends.

As far as eating goes, as it is for all huts, it’s self catering with the option to eat in the local pub. Depending upon budget, a lot of us tend to eat in the pub on the Friday night, and then do self catering on the Saturday night. In this instance, as it’s Burns Night, a traditional meal is prepared for us (more of this later).

Being the end of January, the weather can be unpredictable, and it was. Whilst we were all hoping of a repeat of several years previous (cold and frosty), we were greeted with the likelihood of a wet weekend. On the Friday night, we all ventured to the Wainwright Pub at different times, and a good time was had by all. Several of us did sample their cuisinary delights which, whilst not as healthy as we might cook ourselves, it did taste good. The pub has a good selection of real ales, if somewhat pricey. However, we all enjoyed ourselves.

Even after eating out that night, the wife and I brought up some Cissy Green pies for supper– a local delicacy from Haslingden. Along with mushy peas, these were enjoyed by those that could find room for them after whatever they’d eaten earlier.

Saturday morning saw us all up fairly early, wondering what the day had in store – would it be dry or would it rain. Wherever you do these weekends, there are always several options as to what to do, and this weekend was no different – all weather dependent. By the time we had all finished breakfast, we were all wondering if the weather would hold but it wasn’t looking good. A lot of us studied the bus timetable up and down the valley to work out what best suited our planned day. My group – Mike & Sue, Dorothy, my wife and I – ended up walking the riverside walk to Ambleside but via Skelwith Fold. Nothing too strenuous but a route we wouldn’t normally see if the weather is good.

Arriving in Ambleside, we had lunch outside one of the pubs, where we met up with some of the others who’d walked a different route in, and then we wandered around the shops. As is usual with towns that are renowned for walking, the Sales were on – I managed to get a wind-up torch which could attach to your bag with a carabineer-type fitting. It even had an option to recharge my mobile phone. Leaving Ambleside on the bus, our group got off at various points en route back to Chapel Stile, some at Elterwater, some at the hut, and some even stayed on all the way to the pub at Old Dungeon Ghyll. We were all doing what we wanted to do, with no worries about time, except for the last bus back.

As is usual for this weekend, several of the members brought along their own bottles of single malt whisky – I think I counted 10 different bottles from all over Scotland, with a prominence towards the Islay malts (Frank Pollard – you’d have enjoyed yourself here). Speyside was well represented too.

In the kitchen we had Steve Maden and Ray Carter slaving away over the hot stove, preparing our evening meal – our heartfelt thanks goes out to them for a great fare. It was well worth waiting for, as was seeing those who’d made the effort to dress for the occasion – kilts all around, some more genuine that others.

The menu for the night was : Cock-a-Leekie soup for starters, Haggis Neeps & Tatties for main course, and cheese and biscuits for dessert. Mixed in with the single malt selections we had, the wine and beer, by the end of the night we were all in a very relaxed mood. For our Treasurer (we know who you are), I think he took this quite literally and was eventually found asleep in his chair with one of those silly grins normally associated with a lot of liquid libation. I have the pictures to prove it!

The Haggis was piped in to Highland Cathedral, the ceremonial knife cut the Haggis, and we all enjoyed a hearty meal. Some of us ventured out again, back to the pub to round off a glorious weekend. A few had gone to bed early and, wearing the earplugs that Sue Squires had supplied, actually managed to get some sleep when the rowdy revellers returned.

Sadly, it was soon Sunday morning and it was soon time to depart for home. Some of us ventured out for a gentle walk to clear the heads after the night before. The wife and I even ventured into the Langdale Country Club to have a look around, just in case our finances could stretch to a timeshare in a beautiful location. We were shown a couple of properties and decided it could be something for the future.

Shoehorning the cars out of the car park and we all headed home. As is usually the case, the weather was better on our departure than our arrival. Another good year and another chance to renew acquaintances. We may not see each other very often, but we usually continue where we left off, pledging our intentions for the coming year.

Whilst I know hut attendance might seem like something for a select few, but everyone does have that chance to make a selection with the Hut Secretary (Roy Haythornthwaite) towards the end of the preceding year – all members really should try one.

Depending how many you might select, most members will get on several huts for the coming year, and your names will go on the reserve list if not. I know that I have been around 12th/13th reserve on some, and have still got on them, so don’t think you haven’t got a chance if you’re way down the reserve list. People drop out for all manner of reasons.

Some are better than others, both in facilities and location, but the one thing that really makes them is the people – you, the membership – and that you can’t get any better. The cross section of people of all ages is really good, and you can wander off and do your own thing. The “old hands”, myself included at a spritely forty seven (47), will tell of their experiences over the years. Whilst we do have a good social time, the fundamental reason we do these huts, is the walking – what the Burnley Mountaineering Club is there for us to take advantage of.

2008 is now well underway and I, for one, am looking forward to making the most of what the club has to offer, with several more huts this year as well as doing more monthly coach meets than I have done in previous years.

Let’s make 2008 a good year for the club.

Stuart McDonald (Secretary)