All great days start with a Wetherspoons Full English breakfast (why no Cumbrian variant).
Well, actually, no they don’t. Porridge would be a better bet when you’re about to take on England’s highest hill (whatever).
James had been wanting to climb Scafell Pike since he managed it in Year 7 at Cottenham (age 12); I didn’t quite share his enthusiasm after noting the dearth of new GBG entries at the summit.
But the approach via Ravenglass into Eskdale offers lots of ticking opportunity. And if that fails there’s always a short swim to the Isle of Man where I still need 3 ticks, which sounds like essential business to me.
The trip from Ravenglass into the valley is via one of those overpriced steam trains that make craft beer look cheap but thrill gentlefolk when they go “Toot !“.
We decided to walk from Eskdale Green via Miterdale, which rather confused Bing Maps which reckons you’ll walk along the road and jump into hedges to avoid 4x4s.
Golly, it was wonderful, on a clear day that never dipped below 18 degrees and saw me scare sheep with my Martha Punx T-shirt.
Uphill half an hour, then some springy turf, then a rocky bit, then some views you don’t get in Waterbeach (unless there’s been a glacial event while I’ve been away).
We didn’t see a soul till Blea Tarn (top) when we bounded past a young couple with all the kit but no legs, as us old folk say. The bloke was wearing a T-shirt of a well-known ’90s band, probably Queens of the Stone Age.
I had no idea what to expect in the Boot pubs. Would they be full of gentlefolk ? Or tell me I should have booked in August ? Or be closed despite Facebook saying (ludicrously) “Always open”.
Mainly the gentlefolk, who I raced from the Noddy train to the Brook House, shouting “See ya at the bar” behind me.
Which was daft, as of course you’re not allowed anywhere NEAR the bar these days.
We stood at a safe distance from the pumps, and were then directed to an outside table, possibly on account of our muddy boots.
Just time to capture the one shot that captures the spirit of the pub.
Outside, I enlarged my photo of the menu on the wall and realised it contained a beer board !
Always pick the first one. Emmerdale something ? Med ? HSD ?
I tried all of those possibilities, and “the first one on the list”, before the Landlady concluded it was Ennerdale Mild.
Whatever it was, it was OK, if a bit warm.
But the pub experience was becoming notably less than OK*, and was about to get even worse.
*No fault of the lovely publicans and staff, I hasten to add.
retiredmartin 
Delightful reading as always. You do have me curious to have a Wetherspoons Full English breakfast someday. I reckon it’s a bit different from what I’d get in America. 🙂
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“(why no Cumbrian variant).”
Good point!
“when you’re about to take on England’s highest hill (whatever).”
I was going to say Ben Nevis (which I’ve climbed!) but realised that’s in Scotland.
“I didn’t quite share his enthusiasm after noting the dearth of new GBG entries at the summit.”
And if one ever did show up, it would be a micro with the worst opening hours imaginable!
“And if that fails there’s always a short swim to the Isle of Man”
Me ‘Da’ used to have an ‘offshore’ account there for his UK pension. 🙂
“which rather confused Bing Maps which reckons you’ll walk along the road and jump into hedges to avoid 4x4s.”
Yet more Nordic influence on the OS Map below I see. (i.e. all of the ‘hows’ for ‘hills’) 😉
“and saw me scare sheep with my Martha Punx T-shirt.”
I think it was your wellies that scared them. 🙂
“(unless there’s been a glacial event while I’ve been away)”
I believe you are unfamiliar with the definition of ‘glacial’. 🙂
“Mainly the gentlefolk, who I raced from the Noddy train to the Brook House, shouting “See ya at the bar” behind me.”
To be fair, they ARE gentlefolk.
“possibly on account of our muddy boots.”
Wellies! 🙂
“But the pub experience was becoming notably less than OK*, and was about to get even worse.”
Especially if you still have ticks in Middlesborough or Hartlepool. 😉
Cheers
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Wellies!
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Good luck with the Isle of Man, as I understand there are strict quarantine arrangements in force for all visitors. Possibly something to do with the limited health facilities they have on the island, although you’d think they could do something with Russ’s dad’s offshore pension account!
The quality of Spoon’s breakfasts does seem to vary substantially between outlets. Not sure how you’d explain one to markcrilley, apart from perhaps a few photos, but definitely different from the pile everything up on your plate approach I’ve experienced on visits to the US.
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There’s no chance of a visit to Man, no visitors allowed (except from Guernsey !) https://www.visitisleofman.com/visitor-information/coronavirus-information
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You’re right about the variation in breakfasts, in fact the type of bread used for breakfast rolls differs as well as the quality and quantity of bacon and sausage ! Greggs do the best breakfast deal with their baguettes and coffee.
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Lovely photos and what a fantastic day to go walking/drinking in the Lakes. If you do have the inclination to climb Scafell Pike then I would definitely recommend it. I have climbed it from Wasdale, Borrowdale and Langdale. The walk from Seatoller was definitely my favourite.
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Seatoller it is then. I’ll be honest, I’d overdone the food and drink the previous day and knew I wouldn’t manage it. Still did 22km and walked off nearly 2,000 calories on Tuesday so a great day.
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