Dove Crag, Hart Crag, Hartsop above How

A stunning walk today from Cow Bridge CP (donation) near Brothers Water, then up a superb valley to the foot of Dove Crag. Hereabouts are ruins of an old building thought to be the remains of a secret retreat of a Catholic sect escaping persecution.  The steep climb from here brings you out in the pass between Dove & Hart crags. The long ridge walk down across Hartsop above How is easy and pleasant in good conditions. A Wild Flower book bought for me by Lynn enabled me to identify the flower as Large Thyme (Thymus pulegioides), part of the mint family. 

Scafell with Jonathan!

Guess who we bumped into on Sunday ..... Jonathan & Becky Hacker!  So somehow someone suggested Jonathan and I have a 'boys' walk while the ladies did something genteel.  So, it was Scafell and a Slight Side for J & me, while the girls took a stroll around a some fell or other.  The first two hours were splendid in the dry while the latter 5 hours were splendid in the rain.  Cam Spout Waterfall scramble was great fun, as was the passage up to Foxes Tarn, which was more a puddle!  From Scafell summit we has a brief thinning of clouds which revealed Wast Water.  Then a wet and steady tromp down across Slight Side and finally beneath the cloud level for a steady descent to Wra House Farm car park.  The girls actually walked 1km further than us today!  We all got rather wet! 

Blencathra, the easy way

So then, Blencathra again today, this time the 'easy' way: up Blease Fell, along the summit plateau and down by Scales Fell, making for a pleasant if rather long walk 

BBQ!

With Lydia & Julia home and mum visiting, the Durdin tribe also visited for the afternoon. So, time to try out the BBQ for the first time. Result: success! 

Keswick, the long way!

Our last day in the lakes so we decided to take it easy (!) and walk into Keswick, something we had done many times.  However, this time we thought we would explore and see the extent of the flood damage on the railway track bridges, so we took the link path from Castlerigg down to the river, emerging at a washed out bridge.  What force the water must have exerted!  Can we get along the shore? No!  So as the water was very low, we were able to wade across the river, letting feet dry while we ate lunch.  This 'closed' section of the path was closed for a good reason, the path wasn't there!  So we climbed up to the Latrigg ridge path, but took the minor road(closed due to subsidence) down through Brundleholm Wood.  There were cracks in the Tarmac in places, but for pedestrians it was a pleasant walk through the forest, enjoying the shade on a very hot day.  The return from Keswick was through Castlerigg and on to the stone circle.  The lovely woodland flowers were Germander Speedwell.

Ullock Pike, Longside & Carl Side

Still the sun continues to shine, so after a few jobs at home we just had to get out and enjoy it. Three new peaks: Ullock Pike, Longside & Carl Side make for a superb ridge walk under the bulk of Skiddaw.  The flower is the Heath Bedstraw and is tiny!

Skiddaw House

After getting our van's exhaust replaced in Penrith this morning, we found ourselves with a free afternoon. As it was grey & overcast, we walked up the valley to Skiddaw Hpuse. I do like this walk as it is off the beaten track with just a few cyclists screaming past. Lots of the lovely yellow mountain flowe: Tormentil in evidence - thanks for the introduction Jules Barrett.  At the top of the valley there was plenty of Cotton Grass.  Skiddaw House is the highest Youth Hostel in England.