Mustard Seed Walk - Saturday 14th May 2016

Lovely walk today on Dartmoor with Andy Conley & Chris Bishop.  We parked at Princetown and walked to Hart Tor, up the aqueduct and along Devonport Leat right around to the Leat tunnel, then on the Nun's. cross and back to Princetown via South Hesary Tor.

In the park with the grand kids

Lynn and I popped over to Topsham today to see Han, Dan & the grand kids.  Lovely spring day!

Dodd Wood & Ospreys

Our last day with Sara & Dan took us to Dodd Wood under the slopes of Skiddaw where there is an Osprey viewing point. These birds, the third biggest in the UK after the Sea Eagle and the Golden Eagle, migrate from Africa to next in a tree between Derwent Water and Bassenthwaite Lake. An us demonstrating the wingspan of these birds whilst standing on a simulated next - the size of a double bed!

Mellbreak Fell

With Lydia safely back in her abode, we welcomed son and daughter-in-law Dan & Sara, complete with Spooky their lovely Samoyed who took to the hills with us.  As Spooky was recovering from a major operation, we chose a small mountain to climb.  Mellbreak, at 512 metres at its loftiest, is a symmetrical pair of peaks rising from the placid shores of Crummock Water.  An exciting ascent took us to the tranquil heathery and grassy plateau which provided splendid walking, views and bogs aplenty!

The waterfall is Scale Force, the highest full waterfall in the Lake District at 70m.  Very impressive.

Place Fell

With serious snow on the high fells, today we opted for one not so high, but one which was a serious climb and was a +5hour day. The mass of Place Fell rises from the south end of Ullswater, and Pattersale was our starting point. As we ascended the amazing views opened out of high mountains topped with snow, dazzling when the sun broke through. Once off the fell, a lake path took us back to the van, pretty but tiring after the steep climbs of the day.

Haystacks!

First walk of Easter was to visit the 'resting place' of AWs ashes, Haystacks. We parked at Buttermere, walking around the lake before ascending gently to this 'little' mountain' full of grandeur when viewed from below, but lost amongst loftier peaks once up in the clouds. 

Seaking - final fly-past

Yey! I was fortunate to be driving the DHNA Yacht Taxi on Monday when 5 Seaking helicopters flew past on their final flight before being decommissioned.  It was all over in a moment!