The George Starkey Hut

The club hut is a converted Victorian village school in the village of Patterdale at the head of the lake of Ullswater. Patterdale has a small village store and Post Office, a pub - The White Lion - and a Hotel - The Patterdale Hotel - whose bar is open to non-residents. The adjoining village of Glenridding (15 minutes walk) has a larger selection of stores, including an outdoor gear shop, and a couple of tea shops.

Many day and half-day walks can be started from the hut door, including the ascent of Helvellyn, High Street and Fairfield mountains. The rest of the Lakes and northern Pennines are accessible by car or by careful scrutiny of bus (and lake ferry) timetables.

Climbing in and around the Lake District is mainly on volcanic rocks (eg lavas, ignimbrites and tuffs), but slate, sandstone and limestone are also to be found.

Martin Whittaker on Letterbox (MS) Head End Quarry

Photo: Pat Cox

The Hut sleeps 20 in dormitory accommodation - a further 8 places are in a permanently reserved Members' Room. Bunks have mattresses and pillows and spare blankets are provided, but sleeping bags and pillowcases are required.

It has a large, well-equipped kitchen and a spacious combined dining room / lounge, with an open fire.