This has been a favourite venue of mine for decades. Driving along the narrow lane brought back memories of days climbing here with many good friends, some sadly no longer with us, camping in the fields below the crag and pints in the Newfield Inn across the river. One is still allowed to park near the characterful farm which over the years has had a varied human and animal population. Gone are the Nepalese pheasants which used to chase you up the track. I notice there is now a camping barn available.
The morning was overcast and definitely cool, not what we had expected. The short walk up through the trees brought us under the empty West Buttress but we traversed over to the popular East Buttress, round the corner were a cheerful group experiencing multi pitch climbing for the first time.
We shivered our way up the clean Digitation VS and Trinity Slabs VD [my first lead for two years]. The sun came out later and Paradise VS was obviously more pleasurable. Sitting on the top opens up the views down the valley and behind you the Coniston and Bowfell hills which were now in brighter light. A good end to the day.
My favourite crag in my favourite part of the Lakes. Happy memories, and not just the climbing!
Yes a beautiful area. Enjoy those memories.