It's the last get together of 2017 for the trio and with a dreary damp forecast what way to end the year than a walk over Wansfell, a walk in which all three of us felt it was just the right thing to do given the conditions. 2017 has been another fantastic year on the fells, a more relaxed year than my previous two which I aim to change early next year by completing the Birkett Fells from start to finish, these alongside the Outlying Fells should see me keep out of trouble for the foreseeable. Besides actually walking the Birketts the website will see some slight changes which will coincide with a complete Birkett Fells list page and individual Fell Pages for each fell too which will mean an awful lot of website preparation before I set foot on an offical Birkett walk.

Well, that's what I have in store for 2018 but lets get back to the present. It was David who initially suggested Wansfell for a pre Christmas walk and it didn't take much convincing for Rod and I to follow despite Rod walking an almost identical route just three weeks earlier. For me I will always remember Wansfell as the last summit of a gruelling 15 mile 9 summit walk during the Summer of 2016 when during my Wainwrights in 30 project I arrived at the summit clearly exhausted, sweaty and dehydrated to groups of families and dog walkers who were enjoying the view over Windermere, today whilst stood back at the summit not being able to see 30 yards out I remembered that day and we shared a laugh but besides that Wansfell for me, is just this, it's that last walk before Christmas where three friends could share a laugh, poke fun at one another whilst sharing the last walk of 2017 together.

It was always going to be Wansfell.

We had arranged to meet at 08:30am at Miller Bridge just outside Ambleside, I arrived first to find the lane full of parked cars and motorhomes leaving only two spaces left, oh crap. Rod arrived next grabbing the last available space meaning David would have to park a good half mile back which I guess was no real hardship but it would have been nice to have parked the cars together, we saw David's car approach when exactly at the same time a van that had been parked up manoeuvered out and David quickly grabbed the space, it was quite comical to see and it reminded me of something from a 'Mr Bean' movie!

It's incredibly mild for the time of year and we all half expected to be kitting up in the rain as the forecasters had predicted, which I wasn't too bothered about as I'd treated myself to a new pair of Beghaus Deluge over trousers after my current pair which are not only too big but are also showing the test of time. With the waterproofs packed into our packs we lock the cars, cross the Rathay and enter a deserted Rathay Park followed by an equally deserted Ambleside.

Between the brightness of a mid afternoon warm sun the showers arrived first bright and squally before persistent drizzle ensued and we all took a soaking, this nor the low cloud forecast didn't put anyone else of either passing dozens of walkers and families enjoying their own pre-Christmas walk most of whom were probably here to stay over the Christmas break.

After passing through Skelghyll Wood we descended back into Ambleside and with that, reality along with the hustle of Christmas shoppers and blokes canvasing wearing Elf costumes all in the spirit of Christmas. We retraced our steps through the town and into Rothay Park and finally back to the cars where we stood like three blokes would and said "be in touch, see you next year"

I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and everyone of you for being part of this website and would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year !!