Jimmy and myself set off from Macclesfield, early morning on Tuesday 30th August 2005, QSOing as ever with Dave G3GAH via GB3MN (Stockport repeater) and pulling in at Lymm Poplar 2000 (Truck Stop) services for breakfast.  We went up the M6 as far as J40, where we exited to take the A66 down into Keswick.  I then took the B road down into Borrowdale, and found a campsite by the road between Rosthwaite and Seatoller, at the eastern end of the Honister Pass.

After pitching the tent, we returned to Keswick and out towards Applethwaite, up past my all-time favourite hotel (Underscar Manor) and up to the parking area at the eastern end (cul-de-sac) of the road.  The weather was bright and sunny, and virtually every feasible parking spot was taken.  I managed to nip in a space as someone else was leaving however.

We followed the track up the initial steep section and then enjoyed a very easy walk to the summit.  The track is fairly level as it contours around the east of Skiddaw Little Man, and provides a very pleasant easy section that reminded us of the path by Corn Du on the way to Pen y Fan GW/SW-001.

We had good views for most of the day, but with the cloud base sitting at 900m ASL, the 931m summit was in the clag.  I made six contacts on 2m FM from one of the summit shelters, and followed the same path back down to the car.  This is an easy 10 points, with the ascent, activation and descent all completed in just over four hours.

We returned to the campsite for a shower, and then went to the Riverside Bar, the public bar room behind the Scafell Hotel in Rosthwaite.  Jimmy and I couldn't resist the Ostrich steaks in chili and honey sauce followed by ginger pudding and custard, and similarly I enjoyed the accompanying ales - Taglag, Scafell Blonde and Theakston Old Peculiar.  There was a good atmosphere in this pub and we got chatting to another father-and-son team who were in the local Youth Hostel, and had come up to do some rock climbing.

Back in the tent, we had my new Degen DE-1103 portable radio set on very low volume on a sleep setting for 30 minutes, and fell asleep listening to Big L Radio London on 1395kHz.  

Thanks to the following stations, all worked on 2m FM (callsign MX1SWL/P - ISWL club callsign) with 2.5 watts: