Date & Time: Friday 3rd October 2008 5.30 pm start.

Location of Event : The Thirlmere Dam, Cumbria, Uk ( NY 311 190 )

Places visited : Great How

Walk details : 1.75 ml, 700 ft of ascent. 1.5 hours.

Walked with : Ann and the dogs, Harry and Bethan.

Weather : A fine late afternoon but the sun has already set here in the valley.

Raven Crag from the start of the walk

A fine day was forecast but so was a certain amount of work . . . however we were able to get out before the light failed

and consequently enjoyed a delightful walk up Great How with it's great views of the Thirlmere Valley.

Parking near the dam, we took a short diversion across to get a wider view of the reservoir

Blackberries - not a great season due to the poor weather.	The steep steps at the start of the "permitted path".

The walk follows a delightful woodland path traversing above the lake.	A view down to the dam and of the reservoir take-off tower.

The sun is still up and shining on High Rigg even though we are walking in the shadow of Raven Crag.

Forest clearance at the far end of the Great How path allows us views of the Helvellyn Fells above Thirlspot.

Browncove Crags and Helvellyn Lower Man enjoying late afternoon light.

We follow the circular path around the end of Great How and start our climb to the top from the signpost at it's southern end.

It's a man thing . . .

The"man thing" has been helping clear some of the forest, especially the larch wood surrounding the summit cairn.

Low key but welcome clearance of non-native trees . . .	. . . allows us a more open view from the summit.

Raven Crag from Great How.

Below, the houses of Fornside with Sandbed Gill cutting a swathe into Bram Crags.

Distant Blencathra as the afternoon light fades.

A last view from the bench.

Leaving the summit we backtrack to the other viewpoint, looking south down the length of Thirlmere.

Until recently this was the only view you could get from the top of this fine little fell.

Ann looking down on the reservoir . . .	. . . and myself taking in the distant views towards Skiddaw.

Left . . . "Who's a good boy then ?"   - - - o o o - - -   The woodland sign said . . . "To Great How Summit, return the same way" so we made our way back down "the same way"

The dogs reach the water's edge and take the opportunity for a swim . . .

encouraged in by the odd thrown stick or two.

Twilight over Thirlmere.

Raven Crag and the reservoir from the water's edge.

- - - o o o - - -

Technical note: Pictures taken with with my Cannon G7 or Ann's Ixus 75 Digital cameras.

Resized in Photoshop, and built up on a Dreamweaver web builder.

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