The countdown started – “Ten … nine … eight …”  A few more people joined in, “… six … five …” until the chant was taken up by the whole pub, “… three … two … one … Haaaapy Neeeew Yeeeear!!”

New Years Eve at the Station Inn

From the earliest days of outdoor sports in the UK, walkers, climbers and cavers have frequented the local pubs, harking back to a time when social networking was done over a pint, not a computer keyboard.  The pubs were places for tall tales, stories of epics, narrow escapes or triumphs, and places to plot and plan the next trip.

The author looking pleased with himself

All the mountain and hill areas had their own popular venues.  The Clachaig Inn and Kings House Hotel in Glencoe, the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel and the Wasdale Head Inn in the Lakes, the Vaynol Arms and the Pen y Gwryd Hotel in Snowdonia, the Station Inn and the Old Hill Inn in the Yorkshire Dales, the list goes on and on.

John Bamber - mountaineer, caver, photographer, musician and good chap

Now I’m not a fussy man, but I do like a bit of music with my pub.  And I don’t mean the music that comes out of a box screwed to the wall.  I mean the music that comes out of a box with bellows, reeds and buttons or a box with strings that you strum, pick or bow – I’m talking about live, acoustic music.

Di and Jeff

When I started walking, climbing and caving the pubs in the mountains and hills frequently had that sort of music as part of the normal scene, and the music became as important to me as the outdoors.  In fact, I’ve probably spent more money on musical instruments over the years than I have on outdoor gear.

Jill and Steve

Which is why I found myself in the Station Inn at Ribblehead on New Years Eve, along with others who love the music, the outdoors or both.  They travelled from all points of the compass, from Cumbria, Lancashire and West Yorkshire, and that was just the locals!  We had a few pints, played some tunes, sang some songs, and saw in 2011 in right good style.

Gail and Alan

The instruments are now back in their cases, and the ghosts of long-gone walkers, climbers and cavers have retreated back into the shadows, perhaps for some peace and quiet.  Until the next time we come to waken the ghosts with our wild, beautiful music.

Two old gits making a row

Happy New Year – Blwyddyn Newydd Dda

Credits – The following who supported the night have websites you may find interesting

Di Dennie and Jeff Wright – “Anastice Dingle” – http://www.anasticedingle.co.uk/default.html

Gail Sirmais and Alan Cole – “Fagin’s Pocket” – http://www.faginspocket.com/

Steve and Gill Parkinson – “Mooncoyn” – http://www.mooncoyn.co.uk/

Ron Mollett – West Yorkshire mandolin and ukulele club – http://westyorkshire-mandolinandukulele-club.com/

Chris and Dave Stewart – Walking World – http://www.walkingworld.com/

As well as mucking about in the hills I also play in a band, “Long Meg” – http://www.longmegband.co.uk

Text and images © Paul Shorrock