DeJa Vu, and again

We should run a bus company. We hadn't walked along the Glenderaterra since 2006, and then in the space of two weeks, it gets three visits. Jay and I were here on our last walk, and then on Saturday - for a change Mr B and I decided to head up here just to walk the dog. We've had a fair drop of rain lately so the track which we walked out on is a tad damp. Breeze had a fab time charging backwards and forwards through the puddles. Mud lark that she is.

 The Autumn colours are looking spectacular, quite interesting to be able to look back to last week and compare. Looking back towards Derwent Water.........

 Roughten Gill was in full spate. It's not hard to see why there is a Hydro Electric plant going in.

 As we were only doing a short dog walk today, we turned round just after Roughten Gill to take the lower path back. Only problem was that we had to cross the Gill again. Hmmmmmmmm maybe we'll go back up to the bridge

 As we head back up to the Blencathra centre, this windswept Larch gives a clue to the prevailing weather around here.  Just 4.5 miles, but what a place to exercise your dog.

Then today .......  Thursday is one of my riding out days, so we couldn't start out from home till getting on for ten. The weathermen were forecasting showers (getting heavier after lunch) and gales in the afternoon. we had a few route options planned, but decided to stay low level and close to home. Mr B opted for the walk that Jay and I did a fortnight ago, so just to make it a bit different, we reversed the route. Looking up the Glenderaterra valley from Brundholme, the colours just get better and better.

The sun lights up Bassenthwaite

And then St John in the Vale

And then it lights up Derwentwater

Ever feel like you're being watched?

About 7 miles today, but it's such easy walking here it feels far less.

Girls On Tour

Today was the only day we had free this week, but Mr B often plays golf on a Friday and fancied a round today. So Jay and I decided that we would walk without him! We started out at the Blencathra centre at Threlkeld, on a relatively low level route as there was a bit of cloud around and the likelihood of rain later in the day. Not a bad day as we set off though. Here you can see Derwent water as we look out towards Keswick

 A nice easy track along the side of Blease Fell. Breeze is back and forth at full speed as always. Did I ever mention the length of her tongue?

There is an Hydro Electric plant under construction at Roughten Gill - to provide electricity for the Blencathra centre. Two mini 360s were busy on the track, as you can see from this shot back as we approach Roughten Gill 

 After crossing the Glenderaterra Beck and starting back along the Cumbria way, the Hydro plant comes into view across the valley

 Another clear, easy track takes us below Lonscale crags and over Whit Beck

Walking through Brundholme gave us a view back up the Glederaterra across the Autumn trees. We had walked up the right hand side of the valley and back down the left hand side.

 A really lovely walk, and only 10 minutes from home. The promised rain held off until we returned to the car and the temperature had been spot on for walking. 7.3 miles, but so many alternatives to make it shorter or longer. I think this might become a regular through the winter.

Mosedale

We headed East for a walk starting out at Mardale Head and taking in one of the many Mosedales in the Lake District. Mosedale means 'wet valley'. It is never wrong, and never more so than today! It was supposed to be a cloudy start, but a promising forecast. When we set off though it was beginning to look like the forecast might be wrong. Full waterproofs went on as a precaution - but stayed on all day

 As we headed up Gatesgarth pass, the first thing to strike us was how much water there was about. We had had hardly any rain at home, but there must have been some serious weather in these parts yesterday

 From Gatesgarth we turned at Brownhowe Bottom and headed into Mosedale. Many becks and gills need crossing through here, and it was no easy feat in these conditions. As lunchtime arrived, so did Mosedale Cottage - a welcome sight on a very damp day

 As we neared the cottage, Mr B spotted a small herd of Red Deer. Rutting season is well underway now, so if you keep your eyes peeled in these fells you might just be lucky (not the best picture, but evidence at least!)

 Walking round to the front door

 And into the dry and warm of Mosedale Cottage. Maintain by the mountain bothys association. Our lunch stops just get better and better!

 Chance for us all to dry off a bit, although some of us are a little wetter than others - by choice!

 From Mosedale we walked around Nabs More and over Swine Gill before reaching Swindale Head where we joined the old corpse road. Looking back from the old corpse road we could see where we had come from - the centre of the skyline here

 Following the old corpse road for a couple of miles brings you back to the road alongside Haweswater for a nice gentle end to a wet soggy walk! Over 10 miles and an awful lot of bog dodging!

Once back in the car and about to drive off, we were approached by two men. Well kitted out with all the gear - poles, rucksacks, expensive coats etc. They asked us how far it was to the main road! If you know this area, you will be laughing already. If you don't it might even be worth the effort of looking on Google maps at 'Mardale Head'. These two fools had been walking from Hartsop (check that out on Google too) and had taken a wrong turn. They had no map, no idea where they were (half an hour by car to the nearest main road!) and were wanting to find a bus route to get them back to their car at Hartsop.
Being kind souls, we managed to squeeze them into the backseat - complete with all their gear (wet) and poor Jay who had been sitting quite comfortably up to this point. We dropped them at the Hawswater hotel, where they were going to summon a taxi. Rather them than us to pay the taxi fare!

HIgh Pike Another Way With A Very Salobrious Lunch Stop

The forecast couldn't make it's mind up for today. Yesterday it was awful, so we planned a low level walk from Fellside. This morning it was better, so we changed the route to sort of mid level but with options to go higher or lower. In the end we opted for the higher route and followed the Cumbria way from Fellside up over High Pike. It was fine, hazy but very windy. It was a struggle to take a picture, so just one to prove we were there.

In view of the fact that the weather wasn't too bad, we thought we'd extend our route a bit and head out over Harestones to Lingy Hut for a bit of shelter for our lunch. Neither Breeze or Jay had been to Lingy Hut before - and you're really not a proper fell walker round these parts without a visit here.

It was wonderful in the shelter of the hut. So much so, that when we ventured back outside, it was coat and gloves on time.

From Lingy Hut we traced our steps back over Harestones and then branched off across Birk Moss and Peteraw to drop down to Roughton Gill

Fron here it was a bit more sheltered, but still breezy, but an easy walk back to the car. About 9 miles in total with a maximu height of 2145 ft. Not bad for a day when we thought we would be lucky to do 3 or 4 miles!