The Helm Trig Point

The Helm and the view south west across the Kent valley, Cumbria

At midday the cloud began to clear and the sun made an appearance. There was just time over lunch to rush up to the top of the Helm, a low hill (185 metres) to the south of Kendal.

The Helm is on the other side of Kendal to Scout Scar that I featured one day last week, and this hill is made of acidic rocks rather than limestone. As a consequence, it is not the most ecologically interesting place, but it does have the most astounding views across pastoral drumlin landscapes.

Tonight we went to the House of Resin and Sweat, otherwise known as the Kendal Climbing Wall, the first visit of the year, and unfortunately it won't be the last. This smelly place, full of posing, perspiring hulks and sinewy ladies, is a necessary evil for building strength and technique ahead of the new climbing season. And this year, after doing nothing last, I shall go climbing again; no more laments to lost activities.