Little Fell with Cracking Views

Breeze has been a bit short on exercise this week. Trying to catch up at home as well as entertaining visitors has meant that she hasn't had a blow out all week. It was such a beautiful morning we had to take the camera, no matter how short a walk it would be. We headed over to Little Mell Fell for a change. Breeze wasn't complaining!

 

Husband keeps his excitement a bit better hidden!

At the summit. Yes he was enjoying himself, honestly!

Smile

Heading back to the car

All those views and we only walked about 1.5 miles. Breeze probably managed about 15 miles in that time, oh and to land in a bog just before the car!

Acrobatic Visitor

Squirrel visits have been very rare in gardens across Cumbria for most of the last two years. Thankfully this is not a reflection on numbers - they have been doing really well. but a reflection on the huge amount of wild food that has been available to them. They haven't needed to raid gardens. This afternoon we had a visit from an inquisitive youngster. One of this years kittens.

Apologies for the quality of the pictures, but there wasn't time to clean the window and I was on the phone at the same time as taking the pictures!

Happy Anniversary!

Today is our tenth wedding anniversary and to celebrate, tonight we are driving 240 miles to attend to some parent duties. But never be said that romance is dead. We celebrated in stile during the day by sitiing in a friends field in the sunshine, watching the Tour of Britain come through.

The breakaway group about 3.5 minutes ahead of the peleton.

The peleton appear across the fields about half a mile away from us

Here we go!

I was so bust pointing Cav out, that I forgot to take photos of the middle of the peleton

The moneys worth of bike spares is mind boggling.

Whiteside

Going over to Joan's on Sunday tempted us with the Lorton Fells. Sitting in her conservatory watching the evening light on the heather was really nostalgic. We decided that we would head that way again today. The forecast was for a fair amount of cloud. They were wrong :-)

As usual, we had made up our own route and tried to follow paths which were likely to be quiet. We were right :-)

We left the car at Swinside and instead of heading straight up, we followed the intake wall, round below Dodd and Whiteside

Damp underfoot and very wet bracken, but the sun was already really warm. T shirts and shorts weather (well for me at least)

Foulsyke comes into view so we give Joan a wave. She would have joined us today, but for a couple of reasons it wasn't possible.

As we leave the Intake wall to head up Whin Ben, Melbreak and the head of Crummock water can be seen beyound Lanthwaite Green Farm. The pointy bit on the Skyline is Red Pike.

Looking up Gasgale Gill as we make the steep ascent. The heather is really at it's best just now

Breeze is up and down countles times, while we carefully pick our way and scramble in places, she just leaps from one place to another.

By now it's really warm - hard work!

Coledale Hause at the top of Gasgale Gill

The amazing Dog Boots, can't recommend them highly enough

Did I say it's steep?

Finally we reach the top and stop for a bite to eat. That's one bite for us and about a dozen for the midges. We didn't stop for long!

From the top of Whiteside we headed North and walked down the heathery slope towards Dodd (seen here ahead)

We had passed one fell runner and one lone lady on the way up between Whin Ben and Whiteside. This was the closest we cam to anyone else all day!

Finally we cross Hope Beck and follow the path back along Swinside to the car. We had only walked 5.5 miles, but in the heat and with the steep climb - along with the fact that none of us are very fit as we haven't managed much walking this summer - it felt like we'd had a tough walk! We were all in agreement that we had definitely earned a Lucini's ice cream on our way back down Winlatter.

In truth she only had the last inch or so, I ate most of it!

A Sunday miscellany

Breakfast time and one of our regular visitors had a really heavy collision with the window. It's never a boring old house sparrow!

We kept a watchful eye out and kept in sight to deter the local Sparrow Hawks and after a good half hour sitiing nearly motionless and obviously in shock, I'm pleased to say it flew away looking none the worse for wear.

The afternoon was spent on our annual pilgrimage to Loweswater Show, followed by supper at Joan's, where we used to stay on our hols Crummock Water Cottages, something we have done every year since we moved here.
In between the show and supper there was time for a short dog walk down to Crummock. Not a bad end to a beautiful day.

Dale Beck and Roughton Gill

One of our favourite spots for a local dog walk but one we haven't visited that much lately. We used to bring Hattie here often. PArking at Fellside, we headed off towards the ford across Dale Beck

You'd think she had never been off the lead before!

As normal, Breeze gallops about at such a speed, the camera just caught her as she landed having leapt from the bank on the left and then carrying on round to her left ahead of us. Although this looks pretty dramatic, I can assure you she never even broke her stride!

Play time

Not another soul around. Just the sound of birds and the beck. If you only want to have a wander about, it would be hard to find a more perfect place.

Dipper

Princess

Coffee stop at Roughton Gill

Heading back to the car

We only walked a little over 4.5 miles, and it's pretty much on the level but this place never fails to remind me how lucky we are to be living here.