Sheffield Pike and a mini Inversion

Everything pointed to a possible temperature inversion today. Not a full blown one, but probably worth getting out of bed early all the same. So we did and we headed to Glencoyne.

We left the car at about 8:30am and walked up past Seldom Seen Cottages

As we gain ground the mist which had been beginning to hang in the valley as we started becomes visible behind us 

Out in the sunshine and it's a top coat warmer - and hat and gloves warmer too

Through the Intake Wall

Into Glencoyne

Ullswater is under there

From Nick Head we make our way up Sheffield Pike

Heading for the summit

Sheffield Pike Summit with Ullswater and the Eden Valley shrouded in mist below

Looking towards Helvellyn

A Blue Pool (for Maggie) with Glencoyne Head beyond

We decided to head over Glencoyne Head to Hart Crag 

A helicopter hovers over Blencathra!

The Dodds with Breeze photo bombing! From Hart Crag

Then on to Birkett Fell

Before popping over the wall to shelter from the cool breeze with a cold Breeze for a spot of lunch

Then we follow the wall down to the Balcony path

Hello!

But instead of taking the path we continue across it and make our way down the steep slope towards the Dam over Glencoyne Beck

Glencoyne Head

Crossing the Dam

The mist has all cleared now

Nearly back at the car

7.5 miles and definitely worth getting out of bed for :-)

Walking with Injuns

For quite sometime (probably about a year in fact) we have been planning to do a walk with our friend Joan and then round the day off with an Indian. For a variety of reasons it hadn't happened but the idea has always been there. Walking with Indians became the title of something which seemed destined to never happen - and it very nearly didn't happen today either. We had finally got it arranged and Joan came down with an awful cold!

In the end Joan decided that she could manage a half day walk. Husband is getting over a pulled calf muscle so he opts to stay home and give it a bit longer to repair, so it's the three girls together as we set off from Grainsgill bridge.

The fastest of the three

Heading up Grainsgill

Joan has has seen it from all the fells around but never actually visited Lingy Hut before.

She has now!

Whilst we were in the hut we discussed where to go from there. It was 4pm and the light fades quickly now. Also we have that Indiian to get to! We decided to head over to High Pike and the cut back down via Poddy Gill

As we neared the top of High Pike the light was amazing behind us

And the view over the solway was as clear as it ever is

We start to make our way off piste towards Poddy Gill

Part way down Breeze suddenly starts to struggle. Staggering and wobbly. It has happened before and Spaniels are known to suffer from episodes of collapse on occasions (basically they don't slow down and run themselves out of energy). I carry a special fast acting food supplement for these occasions but bless her, it took her a minute or two to summons up the energy to eat it (it's in her mouth in this picture). After two chunks of it and a few minutes, she was dashing around like a lunatic again thankfully. 

Back at the car in time to go and get that Indian!

Around 5 miles, so not bad for someone full of cold who only fancied a short walk. It was great to be able to take Joan somewhere she hadn't been before - Lingy Hut and the Raj in Penrith too. We must walk with Indians more often!

Roughton Gill with Lynn and Buddy

Breeze and Buddy are such good mates but they have never actually been on a 'proper' walk together. I always felt Bud was a bit too young and impressionable to be let loose with a lunatic spaniel. But we've decided that now that he has passed the milestone of being a year old, it's time to put him to the test. 

It's been chucking it down all morning and the route I had in mind involves a lot of off piste heather. So in the interest of not getting our legs soaked to the skin, we have a change of plan and head to Fellside to introduce Lynn and Buddy to one of our favourite low level wanders.

There are a few sheep about and as Buddy hasn't been put to the test with them before, he stays on the lead for a while. Breeze couldn't really care less. She just wants to run as always.

Having completely ignored every ewe we've passed so far, it's time to let Bud have a bit more freedom......

He never so much as looked at a sheep, far more interesting things to investigate (apologies for the water spot on the lense - splash back from a passing dog!)

I think Buddy is enjoying himself

Breeze waiting to be told she can set off again as we stop for a coffee at Roughton Gill. Meanwhile Buddy rolls in an imaginary pile of poo 

Me and my Buddy!

Heading back to the car

4.5 miles (about 45 for Breeze and somewhere in between the two for Buddy). Two tired dogs and two happy ladies. Not a spot of rain until we were back at the car.