Zak

Breeze's boyfriend Buddy has got a new brother and we went to meet him

Zak

but Breeze prefers Buddy

Kisses from Aunty Dawn

Not sure where Breeze's head is, but it's sending Buddy into a spin

Butter wouldn't melt

Round Hallin Fell

It's over 50 years since Mum and Dad first visited Howtown, so there was more than a bit of nostalgia about as we parked at Martindale New Church to have a walk around Hallin Fell

The View down Martindale which is behind us as we walk along Hallin Bank

Pausing for Breath

Sandwick Bay from Hallinhag Wood

As we come out of Hallinghag Wood, the beach provides the perfect lunch spot

With entertainment thrown in

Off we go again

One of the locals above Waternook

3 miles and a few memories later, it was back to the car at the New Church

Lowther Castle Gardens

Mum and Dad are up for a few days and for once, the weather is behaving. Normally when they are here it siles it down, but not this week! So today a very pleasant few hours was spent wandering around Lowther Gardens. Complete ruins only about 5 years ago, the gardens are gradually being restored, but in quite a low key, natural sort of way. None of your urban influence here thankfully!

North West Driving Club - Dalemain

I've been grooming for Sam again. This time at the North West Driving Club One Day Event at Dalemain

Sam came 3rd, which is a pretty good effort as it was his first ODE.

Saddleback

Molly is coming with us today, so our route is chosen to suit her. We very rarely venture onto the really popular fells, because we would much rather see no-one else on our walks than join with the crowd. However, it is a bit unfair on Jay to ignore them completely, so we decide to pop onto Blencathra before the real tourist season gets underway

The most Molly friendly way up we decided, was up Blease Fell. It also provides cracking views each time you pause for breath. Tewet Tarn and High Rigg seen here in the middle of St John in the Vale

Derwentwater appears

Keswick comes into view, this side of Derwentwater

Zooming in

Pausing for breath on Knowe Crags

Lonscale Fell (behind Breeze) with Skiddaw beyond

The distinctive Saddle

The tarn between HallsFell top and Atckinson Pike. Guess who wants a swim?

After stopping for lunch on Foule Crag, we head over Mungrisdale Common

Famed for its bogs!

Molly has a roll, thankfully not in anything smelly!

Heading for Roughten Gill

and back along the Balcony

Around 7.5 miles and other than on the top of Blencathra, we didn't see anyone else. Now that is pretty unbelievable!

A Trip Down Memory Lane

A short walk is needed today as Breeze has a Doctors appointment first thing. I fancy a trip down to Borrowdale before the Herdwick Hoggs go back out onto the fell and too many tourists appear. I'm not sure how many times I will have walked here, but it will be a big number! All our family holidays were at Rosthwaite and the first walk we used to do each holiday was Castle crag.

Today we parked in Rosthwaite village and walked past Yew Tree Farm to New Bridge, seen here up ahead

Looking back across Rosthwaite on our way up

The Zigzags come into view

Nearly there

Derwentwater from the summit. We weren't the only ones up here today

Lunch with a view

We decided to follow the Allerdale Ramble round High Doat, the small fell seen in the foreground here

Looking back at Castle Crag, the little fell in the middle with trees on

Nearly back to Rosthwaite and we cross the bridge by the youth hostel. I can remember Alison and I used to come down here to play in the river

That's the spot!

Gillercombe House, the white one on the right. That's where it all started - and it's still run by the same lady today as it was all those years ago.

5.75 miles, a red squirrel and our first cuckoo of the year. Not bad for a short outing.