BLENCATHRA

HE FIRST TIME I really saw Blencathra was on a winter’s day in the 1960s when I’d been climbing on Castle Rock of Triermain with the wife of a friend of mine, whose husband had gone up to Scafell intent on some serious winter climbing. We’d arranged to meet him in Keswick’s Lamplighter bar that evening, after an enjoyable session in the sun on some of the Castle Rock classics – Overhanging Bastion, Zig-Zag, South Crag Direct – jugpulling delights sheltered by High Rigg from the bitter wind blowing down from the north. I can