KMC Annual Dinner 11th October 2025, The Strands Inn, Nether Wasdale 

After a rainy and windswept 2024 dinner, the KMC had the great good luck of a fabulous sunny autumn weekend in Wasdale for 2025.  Quite a few guests arrived on the Friday, for a brief wander around before a sociable tea at the Strands.  Some more hardy mountaineers stayed at the campsite opposite – Dave Rainsbury setting the best example by camping. 

Various parties set off on Saturday morning – Midge and John, Graham and Sue headed for the Wasdale Show, Andy Stratford led “The Stratford Wives” on a 22km romp around Middle Fell, Haycock, Caw Fell, Haycock again, Seatallan, Glade How and Buckbarrow.  Another group headed up towards the Whin Rigg/Illgill Head ridge, initially accompanied by Alan Jones, on his search for Latterbarrow, a crag with some KMC new routes set by himself, Alan Shepherd and John Castick in 1970.  Alan never found the crag, but did produce an old guide he had written with Alan Shepherd which should be uploaded to the archive on the website soon.  Please note climbing ended at the crag as the landowner was not happy – you’ll just have to admire it from a distance!

After a boggy ascent, the Screes ridge gave superb views towards the route taken by Andy S and the Wives, Scafell and the sea, views over Latterbarrow, and at the north end of the ridge an overview of the Wasdale Show.  Halfway along we bumped into a beaming Midge, who had abandoned the Show as the pull of a sunny day on the tops was too strong.  We thoughtfully advised her to return to the hotel via the most boggy route, then continued down into Miterdale and back through the lovely Miterdale Forest to the hotel.

Craig and Colin made the most of a sunny day and went climbing at Brantrake Crags, like proper mountaineers.

Andy and Brian decided to walk to Wasdale for the show, where they enjoyed the Cumbrian Wrestling, sheep and dog competitions, apparently including “Best Pink Herdwicks”.  Mary, Sue, Cathy D and Jo enjoyed an arty ramble around the lake and the show too.

After a hearty day out in the sun, we all gathered for a fiendish pre-dinner quiz (thanks to Mary S for organising) and a tasty dinner in the bar at the Strands. 

Pete Leeson (KMC and Woodland Trust) and Angela Wakefield of the Environment Agency gave a fascinating after-dinner speech about “Leading Landscape Change”.  Sad to hear how the classic look of the Lakes hides a huge loss of biodiversity, but encouraging that planting trees and fencing out the sheep can result in quite dramatic improvements.  Did you know there are huge freshwater pearl mussels in the river Irt, which can live for 70 years (but which aren’t reproducing)?  For more information Pete’s “Treeamble” podcast is an interesting listen, with interviews with people involved in all aspects of landscape regeneration.

Thanks to all who brought prizes for the raffle and bought tickets - we raised £220 for Wasdale mountain rescue team– they have thanked us and say the donation will be put to good use updating their drone and radio communications.

Sunday brought a slower start, but a big group eventually headed up for a swim in the mist at Greendale Tarn (chilly!) then a walk back over Middle Fell.  We emerged out of the cloud on the summit, with glorious views over cloud to Scafell and other summits.    Craig and Phoebe headed off to do Scafell, Jo and Andy made the most of being in Wasdale to bag some Birketts, Sue, Colin and Mary went for a coastal walk near Ravenglass and Dave Bish ran about all over the tops sharing sunny pictures pointing out we were all still under the cloud.   The mist cleared as we walked down, so we were able to enjoy a last snack outside the Strands and enjoy some of Al’s birthday cake.

Thanks to everyone for making the effort to come that bit further from Manchester, especially those from the KMC Swiss section (Dave Bish and Kirsten Mundt), it was lovely to catch up with you both!

I had a lovely weekend, I hope you did too – already looking forward to next year’s dinner, it really is a great chance to socialise and have fun outdoors with KMC members you might not have met for a while.

Christine

Annual dinner 2025:  Saturday 11th October at the Strands Inn, Nether Wasdale.

Join us in beautiful Wasdale for this year's annual dinner!

if you want to book, please:

1) EMAIL OR WHATSAPP ME (Christine Beeston) or president@karabiner.org, so I can keep a count of how many have signed up for the dinner.

2) Book accomodation - let me know if you can't find anything.  BOOK EARLY AS THE WASDALE SHOW IS THE SAME WEEKEND!

We don't often go to Wasdale, so there are plenty of walks to be done, climbs to go at and even swimming to be had.  It will be well worth arriving on Friday to spend the weekend in Nether Wasdale, Wasdale is a bit further away than our usual venues - but only 30mins further than Keswick or Langdale, and worth the effort.  On Sunday there is plenty to do on the way back home.

The Strands Inn is friendly and the food is good - this will be a more informal annual dinner for a change - the meal will be in the main bar, the Inn have arranged for us to have exclusive use of this for our dinner and speeches.

Speeches:  Pete Leeson of the KMC and the Woodland Trust will be talking about some aspects of the mountain environment.

Activities: 

Alan Jones has proposed a search for a Lost Crag with some KMC history... 

Medium walk: 10am: meet outside the Strands for a walk up and along the tops of the Screes, and past via Burnmoor Tarn - approx 10 miles/700m ascent in total.

Long Walk: Andy Stratford: 9am: Meet outside the Strands for a 20-22km walk with 1200m ascent - Hotel - Middle Fell, Haycock, Caw Fell, Haycock, Seatallan, Glade How, Buckbarrow - Hotel.

6pm: gather in the bar at the Strands, Quiz

7pm: Dinner

After dinner:  Speeches, Raffle

Dinner cost: £34

Starters:

*Tomato and Pepper Soup - served hot with garlic bread

*Olives and Humous - mixed olives with humous and crackers

Chicken liver pate - served with crusty bread

King Prawns - half pint of prawns with rose sauce

Mains:

Cumberland Sausage with mashed potato, sauteed greens

Steak & Strands Ale Pie with pea puree and hand cut chips and gravy

*Vegan Wellington butternut squash and beetroot wrapped in puff pastry

*Vegan Burger bean and beetroot burger, dairy free mozzarella, BBQ sauce, onion jam on a ciabatta roll with hand cut chips.

Desserts:

Daily Cheescake

Brownie with vanilla ice cream

Tea and Coffee

It will be  £34 / person. (* denotes vegan/veggie options)

Rooms available are as follows - the rooms are blocked for us until end of July so please book soon if you are coming!  

Call 019467 26237 or email info@thestrandsinn.com direct (and mention the Karabiner club to get the special rates, and LET ME KNOW TOO so I can put you on the dinner list.  Don't try to book online - you won't get the discount.

2 x single @ £75 per night B&B if a two night stay (reg £85)  *** None left ***

4 x twin @ £100 per night B&B if a two night stay (reg £120)   *** None left ***

11 x double @ £100 per night B&B if a two night stay (reg £120) *** 2 left ***

2 x family (double & single) @ £120 per night B&B if a two night stay (reg £150) *** 1 left ***

The Strands think they have room for 40 in their dining room - book early to avoid disappointment, especially if you want a single or twin room.

There is also Church Stile Campsite just over the road (please note this is a Quiet campsite after 10) which has places for tents, glamping and some static caravans, and you could also stay at YHA Wasdale Hall, which is a short walk away.  FRCC Brackenclose is about 5 miles away.

I hope to see you there!

Christine