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Our first chance to get out onto the higher fells after our holiday to Suffolk. 

Time to catch up with Finlay of Borrowdale on a walk that we had planned with Trevor & Gill for quite some time. 

Fortunately the weather played ball and we were blessed with a lovely sunny afternoon for our walk together.

The assembled party at the start of the walk.

Trevor with Finlay, Gill with our Dylan and Ann with Harry . . . me behind the camera with the big bag of dog treats !

Borrowdale on a sunny day . . . as we start our walk through Stonethwaite Village.

Along the lane towards the start of the Langstrath Valley, with the campsite by the river on the left.

More of that wood sorrel that we found on High Doat recently.

It is a hot day and the dogs enjoy the chance of cooling down in the pools.

We find the pitched path up the fell which makes the steep climb easier.

All that effort has its rewards

as the view rapidly opens to reveal Castle Crag and the Jaws of Borrowdale.

To our right is the heathery outcrop of High Crag.

The rising fellside leads ontowards Ullscarf, out of the picture to the right.

Near the top the slope eases and we come across a locked gate.

Fortunately there's a purpose made dog-gate tucked in next to the stile which avoids lifting the dogs over the fence.

They all look the same . . . and then we have a doubt about whether we climbed Big or Little Stanger Gill.

Studying that map and with a sneaky look at the mapping Gps we confirm where we are and where the hidden summit of Bessyboot will be.

As we climb further we have chance to look around.

The summit of Ullscarf is now in view . . . but what is the heather covered summit in the middle distance ?

Below us was Eagle Crag . . . a summit more usually seen from below in photos from Borrowdale and Langstrath.

To the left are High Seat and Bleaberry Fell . . . with Blencathra away to the north east.

Climbing up through the undulating landscape we catch a view of the summit of Glaramara.

Around the corner and Rosthwaite Cam makes a dramatic entrance.

Ann walking the last few yards to the craggy final section of the climb to the top.

Trevor and Gill claim the high ground as we top-out on Bessyboot.

It is mid-afternoon so no lunch today . . . just coffee and cake to celebrate the successful climb.

The delightful Tarn at Leaves nestles in the hollow behind the summit.

The whole of the Glaramara Fells are characterised by undulations and outcrops, lovely pools and rocky summits.

This hollow is just that bit bigger than all the rest and is a lovely spot on a fine day.

Now all we have to do is walk down the Combe Valley and round the base of the fell to complete the round trip.

A old wiry hawthorn of indeterminate age.

Yarrow (Achillea) some pink as here, some white elsewhere in the grass as we continue on . . .

. . . past the two pollarded ash trees till we are down at valley level once more.

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The path now took us round to Chapel Farm campsite and Borrowdale Church.

Unfortunately no other pictures are available at present due to an unplanned change of camera setting.

The extra photos may take a little longer to sort out . . . I'll let you know !

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From the Rosthwaite campsite we headed back up the valley towards Stonethwaite to complete the walk.

A sign on the Langstrath Hotel, seen earlier in the day, rather sums up this delightful walk.

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After the walk we returned to Trevor and Gill's home in Grange, where we spent a very enjoyable evening in the company of our friends.

The three dogs, two of whom had run and played all afternoon, were strangely quiet as they slept after their supper.

We humans are just about to sit down and enjoy ours too !

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