Over the weekend I took part in some enjoyable and worthwhile events.
| Skiddaw House Youth Hostel, nestling on the Eastern slope of Skiddaw in the hearty of the Northern Fells of the Lake District, can only be reached on foot and it was celebrating its 25th birthday. | 
|
| I walked up with my wife Wendy and friends, Jim and Fiona Cox from the Blencathra Centre above Threlkeld. | 
|
| To join in the celebration and represent the YHA as a vice president. We were also honoured to have with us the Mayor of Allerdale. | 
|
| Martin and Marie (on his left) owners of this independent hostel associated with the YHA, do a great job. The hostel is self catering but they keep a stock of food for sale and always give a warm and friendly welcome. | 
|
| On Sunday, I joined the Cumbrian Scouts who organise the annual Dragnet competition. It’s an escape and evasion exercise where teams of four from all over the country are dropped off 35 miles from the finish, which was above St John’s in the Vale, and they have to follow a wide corridor along valleys and fells without being caught by catchers over a period of 36 hours. It means two nights out with just bivouac gear and they started in torrential rain. They had to try to reach the finish line as close as possible to 11:00 on the Sunday and here one group was just finishing. | 
|
| It was a real achievement and a genuine adventure – something we have all to little of in modern activities and out door education. | 
|
| Before the prize giving I had the great privilege of being appointed a Scouting ambassador for Cumbria and being given a scout hoody and neckerchief… | 
|
| …before handing out the prizes! | 
|