Carlisle & District Rambling & Fellwalking Club

Criffel

John's Report

Criffel

Sunday 29th September 2013

8 Miles Grade 2

Leader: Peter Flynn

A good turnout today, not sure exactly how many but it must have been around 35 people. We had a few new faces, possible members out for the first time. I hope they were all made welcome and they enjoyed the day. Let’s hope we see them back soon. They couldn’t have picked a better day, the weather was brilliant and we were heading for Scotland, it doesn’t get any better than that. I was determined to go on the “A” walk as I’ve never been up Criffel, looked at it many times over the years but never got round to it, now was my chance. Fourteen of us (I think) set off from New Abbey, it was very easy walking for about a mile or so and we went through a lovely wood. It was the lull before the storm. We started the ascent of Criffell, we had been warned, Peter in his walk description did say it would be rather muddy, he wasn’t wrong. We plodded steadily upwards through the mud. A guy passed us on his way down, absolutely covered in mud, it must get worse we thought but it turned out he had slipped and landed flat on his face. We all walked a bit more cautiously after that. Margaret and I slowly slipped further and further behind but we had plenty of time and we were due to stop for lunch at the summit so we were bound to catch them up. By the time we got there they probably had enough time for a few cocktails and three courses. Peter was spot on again with his description, the views were great, perhaps not as good as they could be, as it was rather hazy. We had our lunch then headed off for the summit of Knockendoch. There was no path and it was tough going  struggling through the  heather. We then headed downhill back towards New Abbey. This was the worst stretch of path we had come across, quite steep, very muddy, very slippy and a few of us took a tumble. Eventually we reached the safety of a nice dry forest road and strolled leisurely back to New Abbey. We all headed off for refreshment, some to the coffee shop and some to the pub. A really great day thoroughly enjoyed by all. A big thank you to Peter ably assisted by Lauren and many thanks to everyone on the walk for their great company.

John McKay

PS

After reading Peter's comments on his "able assistant" it is highly possible that he will be in no fit state to lead the walk to Pillar on Sunday. If there is any last minute change it will be posted on the website.

Peter's Report

Criffel

Sunday 29th September 2013

8 Miles Grade 2

Leader: Peter Flynn

It is a sign that you are in wild west country – home to wild men

like the tartan bandit – when the signs have been  twisted round so that they either point in the wrong direction or have disappeared totally.  Setting off from New Abbey along a track that didn’t look as though it had been used since Robert the Bruce and his merry men created havoc in the area, was interesting – and very picturesque. Today’s group was unusual – apart from Catherine who was new to the club and an excellent walker,  we seemed to have an exchange arrangement whereby several stalwart A party members joined the B group and a number of B walkers came with us. They said it was because of the rare chance to visit Criffel but I think it was to report back what really went on in the A party discussions.  In any case they kept up an excellent pace and Moira was actually disappointed that we did not have time to extend the walk to take in the Waterloo Monument.  At one stage we were joined by a 12 year old boy, his mum and Holly, a delightful Jack Russell who took a fancy to the tartan bandit’s sandwiches. The distant views were hazy,  but the view over Dumfries and the Nith estuary towards Caerlaverock Castle, the scene of much fighting and treachery and the area which gave the language the word “blackmail”  from the local business arrangements,  were stunning and more than made up for the fact that walking across the adder infested bracken with no hint of a path was more akin to trampolining than rambling.  We made it safely to the summit of Knockendoch and then did what every set of instructions for walk leaders forbids outright – we saw a nice path that looked as though it might just lead in the right direction and which Tony thought he might have been on quite a few years ago and decided to take it.  It was boggy and slippery but great fun and we made it back through the forest to New Abbey in plenty of time for a couple of pints or tea and cakes (depending on your level of culture and sophistication) before the bus arrived.  A great day – I hope Catherine and the B walkers join us again.

Just a slight comment in your own report.Re. “being ably assisted by Lauren” – the assistance was in reading a compass on the top of Criffel to get the correct bearing for Knockendoch.  She did it superbly and pointed out the direction just before we set off,  but we just managed in time to stop ourselves from heading down to the coast and wading out to the windmills in the middle of the Solway.  Apart from that her assistance came in making my rucksack load lighter by consuming food and drink when we reached to summit!  I must go into partnership with her.

Peter Flynn