Backpacking & Outdoor adventures by ChingNengBin - Namaste! Everest BaseCamp 5,364m : 2014 - Backpacking to Stranraer, Scotland day 30

Backpacking to Stranraer, Scotland from 21 May to 26 June 2014 (37days)

Carol the driver and Catherine checking the Motorola walkie-talkie before the start of our journey.

Day 30 (19.06.2014) – day 2 to Outward Bound Ullswater at Lake Ullswater, Lake District

Today our mission was to fulfill Val Allan’s ultimate dream and that was to visit The Outward Bound Mountain School, in Lake Ullswater where he attended the Course U39 and U40 in 1959 as a visiting staff instructor.

Getting there was a 42 miles eastward drive from Swallow Barn passing by Lake Loweswater to Lake Crummock Water and driving through the Newlands Pass onto Braithwaite. From Braithwaite we traveled on road A66, A5091 and road A592 to Lake Ullswater. Upon arrival at the school we went in to the office to check if there is any record of Mr Val Allan. The admin staff were very friendly and gave a photocopy of the very old documents typed written by the late Mr. L.W. Davies the Squadron Leader Warden.

The return journey was taking lunch at Dalemain Estate, drive to Keswick and on road 5289 to Borrowdale to Loweswater.

Sleeping: Swallow Barn, Waterend Farm, Loweswater at GBP9.50 pp

The country road beside Crummock Water, Lake District, UK.

The country view beside Crummock Water, Lake District, UK.

A short distance down the road Crummock Water comes into view and it is a spectacular sight. At the beginning of Crummock water is Latwhaite wood which rises up from the bank of the lake and continues steeply down.

Lake District, Crummock Water is 2.5 miles long, 0.75 miles wide and is 140 feet deep.

Taking a break at Crummock Water, Lake District.

Ching Neng Bin at Crummock Water, Lake District.

Betty Ching and Catherine Oon at Crummock Water, Lake District.

Leaving the lake we travel alongside the Crummock Water towards Buttermere.

The small picturesque Church of St James is situated above the village of Buttermere at the junction of Honister and Newlands passes.

The original chapel was consecrated in 1507, while the present building dates from 1840 and was restored in 1930.

On the road towards Buttermere.

The Newlands Pass is a 3 mile-long road running along a ledge above the Newlands valley from Buttermere to the village of Braithwaite, near Keswick.

The highest point is Newlands Hause, 333 metres (1093 feet), where there is a car park, and a short walk to the Moss Beck waterfalls.

Cycling up and over the Newlands Pass.

Public Footpath over the Newlands Pass.

A Herdwick sheep at Newlands Pass.

We took a rest at Newlands Hause (the highest point on Newlands Pass).

Looking down to Newlands Hause (the highest point on Newlands Pass). The left side leads down to Newlands Valley and the right hand side leads down to Buttermere.

A Herdwick sheep at Newlands Pass.

Descending to Newlands Hause and continued our road journey to Ullswater.

An emotional Val Allan was very happy to get back to the school he last visited in 1959.

The Outward Bound Trust Ullswater Centre in Lake District - Set in 18 acres of woodland at the heart of Wordsworth country, the Ullswater outdoor education centre is based on the north shore of the lake.

The Outward Bound Trust Ullswater Centre in Lake District - The late Sqn Ldr Lester Davies, a pilot, mountaineer and mountain-rescue leader: born Wye, Kent 8 August 1919; Warden, Outward Bound Centre, Ullswater 1957-81; MBE 1979; Warden, Kinarut Outward Bound School, Borneo 1981-90; married 1942 Anne Pilbeam (two sons, and one son deceased); died Eskdale, Cumbria 20 September 2003.

The Outward Bound Ullswater Centre accommodates 120 participants in bunk rooms with bathrooms and others have toilets and showers adjacent to rooms. Separate accommodation in rooms of 2-4 people for Group Leaders.

3rd from left is the school warden and he gave us permission to walk around the Outward Bound Ullswater Centre.

Tears of joy running down Val Allan's eyes as he fulfilled his ultimate dream by visiting The Outward Bound Mountain School in Lake Ullswater where he attended the Course U39 and U40 in 1959 as a visiting staff instructor.

The Ullswater Outward Bound staff brought out two old photos of 1959 for us to see if Val Allan is in.

Ching Neng Bin and Val Allan at Outward Bound Ullswater Centre.

We could see how happy Val Allan was in his face, imagining standing at Outward Bound Ullswater Centre in 1959.

Outward Bound Ullswater Centre in Lake Ullswater.

We walked around the Outward Bound Ullswater school compound and looked at the 12ft wall obstacle course.

The spider web team building course at Ullswater Outward Bound school.

The fear factor long tunneling obstacle course at Ullswater Outward Bound school.

Anchoring of ropes and for belaying ropes course at Ullswater Outward Bound school.

These are the high ropes course at Ullswater Outward Bound school.

These are high ropes course at Ullswater Outward Bound school.

Betty Ching beside a gigantic old pine tree at Ullswater Outward Bound school.

Norman and Val Allan walking towards the beach front at Ullswater Outward Bound school.

Ullswater Outward Bound school campfire site and also the last outdoor gathering at the end of courses.

Ullswater Outward Bound school canoes.

Ullswater Outward Bound school.

Val Allan talking with Ullswater Outward Bound school instructor.

Ullswater Outward Bound school trainees preparing for sailing with an instructor observing.

Ullswater Outward Bound school participants can canoe or kayak on the lake, and enjoy a stay in high mountain lodge as part of an expedition to climb Helvellyn - one of The Lake District's highest peaks.

Ching Neng Bin at Ullswater Outward Bound school.

This is the house for boats during winter at Ullswater Outward Bound school.

Ullswater Outward Bound school jetty overlooking the beautiful lake.

The Ullswater lake is regarded as one of the most beautiful lakes in The Lake District National Park.

Ching Neng Bin and Val Allan talking a photo with Ullswater Outward Bound school instructor.

with Ullswater Outward Bound school instructor.

Dalemain Estate near Ullswater has been the home of the Hasell Family for eleven generations, the most recent becoming Hasell-McCosh after the death of Robert Hasell-McCosh's mother who was the last Hasell.

The flower garden at Dalemain Estate near Ullswater.

Betty Ching at Dalemain Estate near Ullswater. Visitors can discover and enjoy four centuries of history, five acres of celebrated gardens, historic parkland.

The flower garden at Dalemain Estate near Ullswater.

Pauline Toh and Catherine Oon at Dalemain Estate near Ullswater.

We had lunch at Dalemain Estate Tea Room served in the Mediaeval Hall Tearoom. Dalemain is home to 'The World's Original Marmalade Awards & Festival' held annually in March.

The Great Barn, situated in the courtyard at Dalemain, was built in the 1500s and is one of the largest and most impressive loft barns in the north of England.

The 16th century Great Barn at Dalemain Estate near Ullswater.

Great Barn at Dalemain Estate, now houses the agricultural and fell pony museum on the upper floor.

Great Barn at Dalemain Estate museum has collection of agricultural implements which have only become outdated through the mechanisation of the last 70 years.

Great Barn at Dalemain Estate museum has equipments from carts and ploughs.

Great Barn at Dalemain Estate museum has things which bring back nostalgic memories of past-times.

Visited Keswick an English market town in the Lake District.

At Booths supermarket in Keswick an English market town in the Lake District.

The Honister Pass is a mountain pass in the Lake District. It is located on the B5289 road in the valley of Borrowdale to southern end of Buttermere.

Honister Slate Mine in Honister Pass in the Lake District.

Honister Pass is a mountain pass in the Lake District.

The Honister Pass viewed from Honister Slate Mine.

Fleetwith Pike is a fell beside Honister Slate Mine which reaches a height of 648 metres.

The Honister Pass is a mountain pass on road B5289 in the valley of Borrowdale to southern end of Buttermere.

Looking down the Honister Pass from Honister Slate Mine.

Ching Neng Bin and Lim Kee Moon standing at the Honister Pass in the Lake District.

Buttermere Ayrshires Ice Cream parlour - The home-made ice cream from own herd of Ayrshire since 2002 served in traditional tea rooms in the heart of the Buttermere Valley.

We travel alongside the Crummock Water towards Swallow Barn, Waterend Farm, Loweswater.

Walk around Swallow Barn Loweswater map.

After dinner Ching Neng Bin went for the 2.5 hour 6km walk around Swallow Barn Loweswater.

Just after passing by this farmhouse, Ching Neng Bin was chased by 3 cows and he had to jump over a barb wire fence. Unfortunately one of barbed wire caught his long pant and tear it.