Fjallraven Classic UK 2024 – 18th-20th September
Posted by Lois Fife on Sep 26, 2024
It has been a privilege to attend the 20th Fjallraven Classic last week in the Lake District. This sold-out event saw the Classic return to UK soil for a second time, the first event being held in Scotland two years ago. The Classic events are held in various locations worldwide including Scandinavia, Europe, Asia, USA and even Chile will host later this year.
With such a pedigree of previous successful events and a high proportion of the 250 hikers being repeat participants, many visiting the UK for the first time, the stakes were high to showcase what the Lake District has to offer.
I arrived on Tuesday at the host location, the stunning 800-year old, Muncaster Castle on the west coast of Cumbria in time for registration. This provided me with a map, passport for the event. Firepot meals were chosen for breakfast, lunch and dinner and a Kendal Mint Cake, which is an absolute must for hill walking in the Lakes! A welcome meeting was scheduled for 6.30pm in the marquee on the lawn where introductions were made, information shared and schedules were discussed. The rest of the evening we were free to explore the extensive grounds and visit the Weapons Hall with its bar and a chance to partake in various medieval activities before retiring for an early night in preparation of three days of hiking.
Day 1 Langdale to Rosthwaite – 18km
Wednesday dawned with a clear blue sky and a cloud inversion in low lying valleys which made for a beautiful journey from Muncaster to Langdale along some very narrow, twisty roads!! Arriving at Langdale we were treated to coffee and Danish pastries on the terrace whilst being entertained by a pair of talented musicians. After final pack adjustments and boots tied to perfection, I got my first stamp of the passport marking the start of the hike. The route followed the Cumbrian Way and was relatively flat to start and layers of clothing were soon stashed as the temperatures were unseasonally hot. The ascent of Black Crags to Stake Pass was a slow procession of backpackers emblazoned with the orange flag markers worn by all participants. Many packs also told the history of previous Classics with badges awarded after each completed trip. The zig-zag descent from Stake Pass was loose and dry and after passing the 200-year old hollowed out tree we progressed to the day’s checkpoint for a passport stamp and a swim opportunity at Black Moss Pot. Having not packed my swimmies, it was a knee-deep dip for me and a refreshing chance to cool the feet.
The last few kilometres lead us along Stonethwaite Beck to Rosthwaite for our overnight camp spot, a flat field with views of Castle Crag and Borrowdale Valley. After getting a passport stamp to mark the end of day one, we were given a slice of tealoaf, such a welcoming treat. A neighbouring field of Herdwick sheep looked on as I pitched the new Big Agnes Fly Creek UL1, my shelter for this trip. Weighing in at less than 950g (including pegs) it fits nicely in the side pocket of my Gregory Facet 45L rucksack. The very dark green (almost black looking) flysheet helped the tent blend into the environment.
By the time the sun went down the large fire pit was already ablaze and surrounded by people, eating their Firepot meals (and sharing tales of the day. We were encouraged to put our memories of the first day onto paper. A mindful ‘Art Club’ was in progress with pens, pencils and water-colours at our disposal to get the creative juices flowing. Skill level was not questioned, and the less serious attempts certainly got most laughs.
The clear skies and cold overnight temperatures created a high amount of dew by the morning, but the new hyper-bead fabric on the flysheet of Fly Creek performed well. The inner tent stayed dry, helped by the part mesh/fabric inner and distance between the Fly and inner created just enough ventilation. The door opening is quite small, so initially getting out of the tent was the only risk of getting wet from touching the outer. A quick shake down of the tent removed most of the moisture, but it was still quite wet when packed away. The joy of it being small enough to fit on the side of the pack is that nothing internally gets wet.
Day 2 - Rosthwaite to Wasdale - 18km
After a hearty breakfast of Firepot Baked Apple Porridge, the route started along the river to Seathwaite which included a rock traverse above the water’s edge with a chain hand-rail to help avoid an early morning dip. A rhythmical leg stretch following the river was great to get into a stride as we headed to the picturesque Stockley Bridge, where the flat terrain took an upturn on a prepared path up the side of Styhead Gill. This levelled out at the top as we approached Styhead Tarn and the checkpoint for Day 2. With plenty of daylight ahead of us, Styhead Tarn proved to be a great place to while away a few hours, spread the tents to dry in the sun, eat, filter water and take a plunge. The lack of swimwear didn’t deter some hikers, who dropped everything ‘literally’ at the water’s edge and dived right in. I think the temperature of the water left some swimmers as surprised as onlookers on the shore and their exit from the water looked a little more awkward than the entry!
The descent to Wasdale Head followed the ‘motorway’ path, a term that confused one walker as she thought there was an actual motorway for cars cutting through the heart of the Lake District. The only motorised vehicles active in the area were the farmer on his quad bike, the helicopter buzzing around and four Typhoon jets. The jets cut through the valleys at such velocity they were out of sight by the time you heard them. A small detour off the route took us to the Pub at Wasdale Head for some very important fluid replacement followed by an ice-cream - after all, it is important to support local businesses. The route for the final few kilometres crossed the dry river beds and through the National Trust campsite, which some presumed was our site for the night, but ours was at Wasdale Head Hall Farm further along the southern shore of Wast Water.
Another beautiful location bathed in sunshine. Today's treat after getting the passport stamped was local gingerbread, which was very gratefully received, and our four-legged neighbours were Alpaca’s which appear to like nettles but don’t like being petted! I had a babbling brook to sit by as I prepared my Firepot Pulled Pork and again the fire pits were a honeypot for the evening as the sun went down. Popcorn was cooked over the open fire using a two-sieves on a stick device, though I believe this had not been carried on the event - now that would be a luxury item!
Day 3 Wasdale to Muncaster Castle - 14km
The day dawned with the familiar dewy grass and a blue sky above, and the route climbed steeply behind the campsite providing our final view of the deepest lake in the Lake District. Levelling out we passed Burnmoor Tarn and carried on along Eskdale Fell, following streams and avoiding deeper water and boggy sections. The descent through ancient woodlands to Boot was echoed by the sound of the steam train and puffs of smoke in the distance. A refreshment stop at the pub helped top up fluid levels before heading to the final checkpoint of the trip just below Stanley Force Ghyll.
This checkpoint provided us with warmed sausage rolls and we were encouraged to take time to explore the waterfalls above. We left our bags at the checkpoint and followed the stream through some amazing moss-covered woodland with rare ferns which resembled a scene from a Tolkien movie and climbed to the dramatic waterfall viewpoint which was well worth the extra effort. We were rewarded upon return to the checkpoint by a second sausage roll!
With rucksacks back on board, we headed west to what my German walking companion described as ‘End Sport’, the final part of the journey. The route had a bit of a sting in the tail with about 2km to go - a final climb of about 150m. The view behind us was a snapshot of the Lake District and as we crested the top and looked out to sea, we were slightly saddened by the fact that the route was almost over.
The support from volunteers as we reached Muncaster Castle was amazing and there were signs of encouragement to help us reach the end. We were cheered as we crossed the finish line and I felt totally elated by the whole experience. Finishers gathered on the lawns and beers were clinked and ‘cheers’ was called in numerous languages, as more and more people crossed the finish line. At about 7pm the final finishers crossed the line and everyone flocked to the finish to cheer them in – a very moving gesture to witness. As the sun descended over the sea, we enjoyed an amazing hog roast and danced to a ceilidh band. Considering English isn’t the main language spoken by most of the dancers, and with low level angled poles within the teepee to avoid the outcome was hilarious.
The Fjallraven Classic UK 2024 certainly did the UK proud. The organisation was impeccable, the route perfect for a wide range of ages and abilities, The Lake District was majestic, the host venue was welcoming, food was plentiful, company was varied and interesting and the weather was a gift. We were so lucky and don’t we know it!
At the end of a Classic, people don’t say goodbye - they say ‘see you at the next Classic’. I believe Sweden is nice!
Kit List
- 2025 Big Agnes Fly Creek UK1
- Sea to Summit Womens Spark -9
- Nemo Tensor Insulated Mat
- Silva Trekking Poles Aluminium Cork
- MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe Gas Stove
- Black Diamond Spot 400 Headlamp
- Suunto Race Titanium Watch (for navigation)
- Sunslice Gravity 10 Fast Portable Power Bank
|
||
 |
||
|
Lois Fife |
||
|
Lois is a keen cyclist and is always plotting a route… either for her next trip or looking for a different way to commute to work! She is regularly seen heading for the hills on a packed-up bike, be it for a quick overnight wild camp, or a longer multi-day adventure. She is currently plotting her route to walk the TGO across Scotland. She is a British Cycling level 2 leader and has been involved with MTB Guisborough encouraging the next generation of mountain bikers. Lois joined Ultralight Outdoor Gear in 2021 and is part of the Customer Service Team. She is always keen to get her hands on new kit to try in the field and share her findings on the website. |
||