In October 2007 - the troop was given a choice of three camp sites for their 2008 Summer Camp – Blackwell Court near Birmingham; Essex International Jamboree or the Lake District. They choose the Lake District and planning started booking up the various activities and camp site.

On Saturday July 26th, we left the Scout Headquarters at 07.30am for our long trip to the Lake District – we would be using the lodge building called the Kirkstone Lodge Chalet on Great Tower Camp Site situated in Windermere just 1 mile from the lake. The camp site is set in 250 acres of hill and wooded areas and is well off the beaten track. 18 Scouts, 2 Young Leaders, 1 Beaver and 5 Leaders attended.

We travelled up in just two mini-buses and our trailer – just taking our personal kit only as this would be a week of full on activities.

We stopped for lunch at Stafford Services and after lunch we needed to get some diesel for our own 17 seater mini-bus which the group purchased a few days prior to our camp. We found that we did not have the key to the fuel tank and only had a ¼ of a tank left which was not good as we still had 150 miles to travel! We searched the mini bus – no luck. Rang Graham (GSL) – no luck. Oliver Weavers had an idea that we try using Eddie’s pen knife and we managed to open the cap (a Scout is always prepared!) as I was on the phone to the breakdown service – crisis over and we were on our way again arriving at Great Tower around 2.45pm – a distance of 310 miles.

In the evening after dinner we explored the camp site grounds seeing where the activities were.

Crate Stacking on Sunday 'Start of Summer Celebrations'

Climbing and Abseiling on Juniper Scar
(natural rock face).

Sailing on Lake Windermere on Monday morning.

Having a stop at Beacon Fells Tarn
on the Cumbria Way.

On Sunday was the start of our camp activities – we were taking part in the camp site – Start of Summer Celebrations. They did activities of: high/low ropes, archery, air rifle shooting, mountain biking (on-site), circus skills, fan descender, leap of faith, crate stack, tree climb and zip wire – which was 30ft up in a pine tree and was 200 metres long!

In the evening the camp site was entertained by a steel band, camp fire sing-a-long and to finish off a fire work display at 10pm, they let off £1,500 worth of fireworks.

On Monday, we travelled a couple of miles down to Moor Crag for sailing on Lake Windermere. Scouts were taught about how to sail i.e. tacking, putting up the sail and how to use the rudder etc. Some went into Toppers with the others in two Wayfarers with instructors. Afterwards we all jumped into the lake off the landing stage to cool off as it was a hot day!

In the afternoon, we went back on site we did climbing and abseiling on the natural rock race called Juniper Scar.

In the evening we took part in a camp site basketball competition and George Manning hurt himself on the rope swing made by another group and cut his leg – we took him to hospital in Kendal A&E and he needed four stitches having to wait in the queue for three hours!

On Tuesday morning, we awoke to rain typical as this was our hike day. We drove to Coniston to start our 10 mile hike – we were going to use part of the Cumbria Way. By this time the rain had stopped and the sun was shining. Our start point was in the centre of the village in view of the ‘Old Man of Coniston’ – a high peak. We walked along the path next to the lake – made famous by Donald Cambell and his Bluebird.

We went through Torver Back Common and stopped for lunch at Sunny Banks – sitting on the landing stage looking out towards the lake with great views.

We then walked pass Beacon Fells and Tarn (small lake) via Appletree Holme, Subberthwaite and finally onto Gawthwaite our pick up point – but a mile from the end the rain started and it thundered we got very wet (when it rains in the Lake District it rains!)

On Wednesday, we hired out some mountain bikes and set off from the camp site at 11am we decided to cycle just the back country roads. But only after a mile Charlie Main skidded off the road and scratched his arm - very lucky escape.

After crossing the ford via the bridge – don’t do what I did trying to ride through it and getting only a few feet across and having to put my feet down – getting very wet hike boots – great! It was 2 feet deep in places. Scouts were all laughing with me fuming about how I wanted to stay dry!

Afterwards it was onto Winster and Lucie got a puncture by the golf course. We stopped here for lunch waiting for a replacement bike – luckily a passing cyclist loaned his pump and we managed to re inflate the tyre as it had tyreweld (self sealing liquid).

When onto Windermere and we boarded the Mallard a vehicle and foot ferry – this got us across the lake. We then cycled through Far Sawrey and Near Sawrey and finally onto Hawkshead passing Esthwaite Water. After going round Esthwaite Water we then headed back to the ferry and via Black Beck Wood and Shyllhead – finally arriving back at Great Tower at 5.30pm having cycled about 25 miles!

On Thursday, we went back to Coniston – this time for Ghyll Scrambling (or as they say it Gill Scrambling). We met our instructor from Mere Mountains who were going to take us up the gorge.

We all dressed up in our old trainers, waterproofs or wet suits and a few layers of clothes and kitted us out with helmets and buoyancy aids. We then walked up to the village and headed for the Levers Water Falls. We were given a safety brief and then we were off walking up steam following each other and working as a team - climbing, scrambling, falling in the rock pools and getting very wet. After about ½ mile of walking up stream we came out via the footpath at the copper mines and headed back down the valley to the village. The day was split into two halves with the other group walking around the copper mines and scrambling in the afternoon.

Mountain biking on Wednesday.
At the start of our 25 mile bike ride!

In the gorge doing Ghyll Scrambling
at Levers Water Falls on Thursday.

Looking over at the caves on Blea Moor at Ribblehead.

The second group going caving in the afternoon.

On Friday, we drove to Ingleton which is situated in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. We again met Mere Mountains instructors in the tourist information car park and then drove out to Ribblehead – the home of the Three Peak Challenge. We could see the peaks of Ingleborough, Pen-y-Ghent and Whernside in the distance. Our last activity of the week was Caving on Blea Moor which is next to the Settle to Carlisle Railway Line ‘England’s most Scenic Railway’ and were in full view of the Ribblehead viaduct.

We then had a safety brief which each Scout and Leader having to wear a helmet with torch, wellingtons, full waterproofs and a belt. We then walked across the road and onto Blea Moor and headed for the cave complex in the hill.

We entered the first cave in an opening of no more than 18 inches – we all had to cruel on our front, this leading us into a very small chamber with water running and filling up our wellies and was very cold. The caves had running water due to it raining most of Thursday night and the colour of the water was dark brown due to it running off the peat in the moors. During the session we explored all five caves and the other group walked up to the viaduct and bridge on the footpath to Pen-y-Ghent.

In the evening, we drove into Windermere and had fish and chips supper in the local shop with some Scouts also visiting the fairground.

On Saturday, we set off back to Bures with the traffic a bit slow on the M6 around Preston area. We had a blow out on the motorway on the trailer – luckily a passing motorist saw the blow out we pulled over on the hard shoulder. We had a spare wheel and were off within 15 minutes – not nice changing a wheel with lorries coming pass you within 3 feet!

We finally got home at 5.45pm with everyone very happy that they all had a great week of activities.

Paul Snelling
Scout Leader

Click here for more photos