An unscheduled walk over Mellbreak

We'd planned to head south today but the forecast this morning said sunshine in the west and cloud elsewhere, so we changed our minds at 8 o'clock and picked on Mellbreak as our destination. Memories of many happy holidays come flooding back whenever we head over to Loweswater

We parked near The Kirkstile nad headed up through the firebreak. Breeze gets a quick game with Millie the Collie before we head up towards the front of Mellbreak

As we gain height Loweswater comes into view behind us

It's getting steeper

and steeper

Guess who got onto the top first!

Snow on Grasmoor

Heading across the top from the North Summit to the South summit

Buttermere appears as we get to the Southern end of Mellbreak. There's a sneaky cool breeze up here - as well as a sneaky spaniel Breeze

We start to descend - you can see Jeff, Jay and Breeze ahead. That's Crummock water and Buttermere in the valley below

When the sun comes out it is lovely. We decide that rather than going down towards Scale Force, we will drop off the side and go off piste towards Low Ling Crag

We are heading for High Ling Crag, the bit sticking out just infront of Breeze

It's a steep climb down through the bracken

Crummock

Down at the proper path now and looking down over Low Ling Crag. Fleetwith Pike is the prominent Fell left of centre

Rannerdale Farm is briefly illumiated, showing the lovely autumn colours

Happy Dog as we walk along the length of the lake back towards Loweswater (village)

When we decided to head over here this morning, we gave our friend Joan a quick call to see if she fancied joining us. Unfortunately she had other things she had to do today but invited us to call in for a cuppa after our walk. She lives in the best spot in the country - and doesn't it just look superb in the autumn sunshine. Definitely the best holiday cottages in the world too.

Nearly back at the car

Breeze wants to know what I'm taking a picture of

This really is an amazing autumn and a bit of sun makes such a difference

Back at the car now . That's Mellbreak and that's the way we went up

Autumn in Loweswater

We head up to see Joan where we are treated to her lovely home baking to accompany our tea. I don't know how many times I have photographed this view, but I defy anyone who has visited Joan or stayed at her cottages to ever manage a visit without wanting to take a picture

Rannerdale in the foreground with Snow on Great Gable - Haystacks is the dark bit in front of Great Gable, Green Gable is to the left of Great Gable (slightly in cloud)

Grasmoor and Whiteside from Joan's garden

A lovely short walk on another amazing autumn day. We walked about 5.6 miles and although it wasn't quite the day the forecasters had promised, it was still pretty damn good and probably a lot better than where we had originally planned to walk. Anyway we couldn't have had a better cuppa and cake anywhere else, especially with the Best View In The World thrown in too - Thank you Joan.