A Little Walk up Little Mell

It's been an amazing week of weather and we are planning to walk with Ed and Gerda tomorrow, but I can't let another glorious day slip past without getting on the fells. So having had a warm up at pilates this morning, it's time to get the walking boots out. Husband is busy painting benches and doesn't want to miss the opportunity to get them finished, so it's just me and Mummy's Little Princess and it's just a very quick walk up Little Mell Fell

As mad as ever

Blencathra across the A66

Littl Mell Summit

Too many to mention, but Ullswater and beyond

I knew it was worth keeping all those British Sugar clothes!

And relax..................................

A Trip To The Dentist

We frequently remind ourselves how lucky we are to live in the (in our opinion) most beautiful place in the country. Never do we feel it more than when we go to visit our dentist in Keswick. In our previous life, I would have been going to Newark and Husband Lincoln for a 6 monthly check up. I don't think either of us would have bothered to take the dog with us!

Wildlife

One of our regular visitors sunning himelf!

Skiddaw and Sale How

What a glorious morning for a walk. Jay hasn't been up Skiddaw before so I have had it in the back of my mind to rectify that for a while, but we were leaving it till silly season was over. There is never a really quiet time on fells as popular as Skiddaw - that's why we rarely go up them. But sometimes you've just got to bite the bullet and accept that you are going to see other people out there!

We parked at the Latrigg carpark and made our way up the motorway. We were lucky, there were a couple ahead of us and a group of about three behind, but the couple ahead kept up a decent pace and the ones behind stayed well behind. Everyone we met coming the other way was pleasant, so actually we didn't mind seeing them!

It was promising to be a glorious day with some very atmospheric clouds

Keswick, Derwent Water with the distinctive Catbells beyond. The higher fells still have an eerie layer of cloud clinging to the tops

Zooming in on Catbells

As we gain height you can see our planned descent route. We will cross Sale How - the grassy lump in the middle - from left to right dropping down the far side of it to Skiddaw House

The summit of Skiddaw - still in cloud, which it was for most of the day. We didn't have to drop far before we walked back into sunshine

Heading for Sale How - spot the dog!

Lunchtime power nap

The Lunchtime view

You can write your own caption for this.................

Mummy's Little Princess

Molly is keen. This must be her longest walk yet. I wonder if she is the first blind dog to walk up Skiddaw?

That's Lonscale Crags behind Breeze (the pointy bit). Our return route is round half of the Balcony Route which passes under there

Skiddaw House in the trees ahead

I just can't help myself!

On the Balcony

On the last bit of the Cumbria way as we head to the car

By our standards we saw a lot of people today, but actually for such a popular fell we didn't do too badly and without fail everyone was very friendly. It's certainly a better kind of tourist at this time of year!
Just short of 10 miles and it was absolutely perfect weather again - apart from the summit of Skiddaw, but that really didn't matter, it just added to the atmosphere with clouds blowing around.

Hamilton Park

It's not often we go racing, and even more rare that I take any photos, but we had a trip up to Hamilton Park today to watch one of Jame's horses run. It was a beautiful day and it's a beautiful course, so I felt compelled to get my phone out!

Our friend and Trainer Barry had a runner in an earlier race, Richie leads up in the paddock. You might guess he spotted me with the camera by the big cheesy grin!

And their off

Barry's horse ran to a very creditable third

Barry and Richie in the winners enclosure

Now it's  Rosie's turn. Bred by James, ridden by me (on many occasions but definitely not today!!). Rosie is still learning the ropes so is here for the experience today

Ridden by Fergal Lynch today

If you fancy experiencing flat racing, we can highly recommend Hamilton Park. Excellent Owner's and Trainer's lunch and facilities and a really lovely spot. Just a shame it's so close to Glasgow!

Borrowdale Shepherd's Meet

We haven't got to many local shows this year so we decide to get over to Borrowdale Shepherd's Meet today for an hour or two. It's held at Yew Tree Farm in Rosthwaite - the area where it all started for me - all our family holidays were here. When I say it all started here, I mean the love of Cumbria, not farming. That was a bit closer to home!

Judging the Aged Herdwick Tups

We came across quite a few real nice working bred Springers today. One pair in particular were very similar to Breeze

Breeze on the left (as you look at it) and Fern on the right. Breeze and Fern had an identical trick of squirming round to sit on your feet leaning on your legs. You'd think they were sisters

Breeze spent an awful lot of the time getting attention fro passers by - having such a pretty spaniel is a great way of meeting people. When she wasn't getting a tickle, she was taking it all in. She's got quite used to shows now.

Chewing the Cud

Not a bad setting is it?

The reward for being a good girl - a dip in Derwent water on the way home - where we met another spaniel admirer - Lee a fireman from the North East who splits his time between there and a caravan at Threlkeld. He is just about to get a Springer pup (it's just been born) and he had lots of questions! Hopefully he will call in with the pup when he gets it in a couple of months time. We'll have to wait and see!

High Pike with Ed and Gerda

Ed and Gerda are here on their annual visit from Holland. They wanted to join us for a walk, but not surprisingly they are a not over keen on doing a lot of uphill. Last year we did a 6.5 mile walk so we know they are ok for that distance, so we decide to up the anti and do a little bit of climbing. We planned to do a route behind High Pike, taking in one of our favourite spots, Roughton Gill.

Breeze is joined by two of Ed and Gerda's four working collies. Donna Summer (in the middle) and Abbygail. Donna was bred here, Ed and Gerda picked her up as a pup when they were here two years ago

It's a beautiful day and there is plenty of chatting as we make our way up the slopes of Low Pike

We hadn't planned to go to the summit, but Ed and Gerda were coping very well and it was such a lovely day. We suggested that they might like to go to the top of their first mountain - they thought they would!

Just below the summit we call in at the shelter for our lunch

Breeze has a power nap

Abbygail didn't want her picture taken, so she stuck her tongue out at me!

Pretty girl. Donna Summer poses for the camera

Ed and Gerda on High Pike Summit

I know pictures like this are normally few and far between, but I have been trying to find a good picture of the three of us to print off for Dad. As I can't find one,Gerda has the job of taking a few today.You have been warned! 

Heading West towards Birk Moss

I think they are enjoying themselves!

The dogs are all having a great time. Donna and Breeze always in front - Abbygail loyaly stayed with Ed

Coming down is as unfamiliar as going up when you live in Holland!

A family portrait at Roughton Gill

Heading home

Crossing Dale Beck as we make our way back to Fellside

6.5 miles. A real achievement for Ed and Gerda and a lovely day for us all. with luck we might get them up another mountain before they go home.