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After some brilliant weather the sunshine took a slightly back seat for our first walks

with our long standing OFC friends Sherran and Bill,

who were over to stay with us in Loweswater for an extended weekend break.

First (Saturday) evening walk down at Crummock Water.

Either Sherran and Bill are shorter than I remember . . . or is Ann standing on the first rung of the gate ?

One request from them was to see our red squirrel during their stay as he was a frequent visitor to the garden.

Here he was, just as we were going for a walk . . . sadly he didn't appear again till after they had left a few days later !

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On Sunday the sunshine was more prevalent

so we headed up the Loweswater Valley for a walk up onto Askhill Knott.

Parking at the bottom end of the Askhill farm track was limited today

and the two car gap here was the only one along the whole of this part of the road.

A Spring flower basket in the window of Waterend Farm (Swallow Barn)

There's a pair on the windowsill too . . . a pair that is, not two more flower baskets   ;o)

A quick photo opportunity at the head of Grange Lane as we start a short walk along the old Mosser road.

One hundred yards down the lane is a gate out onto the fell.

Ann and Sherran look down from near the top of Askhill Knott.

Below the large number of cars on the roadside parking area can be clearly seen . . . quite a lot more than in recent weeks.

Harry and Dylan sit at the summit.

In the distance there is still a little snow on the high fells but it is melting fast.

Bill offers a summit photo on Askhill Knott, using my camera.

In the background is Darling Fell . . . and we'll extend the walk today by including the walk to this summit as part of our route.

Bright sunshine on Loweswater below.

The final pull to the summit of Darling Fell.

Dylan makes the final leap to the summit.

"You're supposed to use the stile" . . . says Sherran.

" Go back and try again."

No oooo !    Use the stile.

Oh well, we'll use the stile for a different purpose . . . as a photo shoot location for Ann.

Where's Dylan now ?

Ahh . . . there he comes . . . again.

Eventually we made it across to the viewpoint cairn overlooking Crummock Water and the Buttermere Valley.

Our walk continued down the side of the fell.

Our route was very much ad-hoc as the bracken has all died back over the winter and there are few specific paths up here.

More sunshine on the lake as we made our way down, including a coloured hue to the edges, matching the sun high above.

Back to the car via a green lane down the fellside close to Askhill Farm.

This old grass cutter lies abandoned in the one of the upper fields.

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The following morning the skies were clear and the sun shone on the Spring flowers of our garden.

Crocuses in the morning sunshine.

Some of the snowdrops are starting to fade . . . but still look good.

Some of the yellow Daffodils are now in full bloom.

The two dogs enjoy the morning sunshine . . . a walk on Fleetwith and Haystacks is on the cards later today.

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Elsewhere in the village . . .

There is a superb display of crocus on the local churchyard.

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I'll take this opportunity to record the passing of our friend and neighbour, Mr Chris Todd, this week.

He has farmed in the valley for many years, only in recent times passing the running of Kirkhead Farm on to his son.

[ His funeral was today . . . 18th March 2016.]

	Star of our valley and of the Cumbria Magazine (Feb 2012), seen here at the Loweswater Show 2015 He was interviewed a while back by Howard Jackson whilst at the Caldbeck Sheepdog Trials.   It turns out there is a YouTube recording of the occasion. Click here to enjoy Chris's chat about his sheep dog trialing days

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