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It was a lovely walk on Monday after a few days of very changeable weather. 

The rains often gave us grey skies but then cleared with dramatic effect.

Here are a few photos from the last ten days.

A week or so back and the diggers were starting (at last) to remove gravel from the river bed in Cockermouth.

Hopefully they will remove a significant amount of stone in order to increase the river bed capacity,

so that it will be able to drain away any future floods before they cause more problems.

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On the Saturday Ann and I ventured out late afternoon . . . as the weather was clearing after rain.

We had a stroll up the track to High Nook Tarn from Maggie's Bridge.

This photo was from the edge of Holme Woods, taken as we dropped down the fellside towards Watergate Farm.

Just two hours later this was the sight that greeted us as we went outside after supper.

The sun had burst forth "with attitude" and had a huge colour change as it set behind the fells to the west of us.

It lit up the summits and illuminated what remained of the clouds that were just clinging to the tops of our local fells.

The cottage with Whiteside, Grasmoor and Rannerdale Knotts in the bright Saturday evening sunshine.

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On Monday . . . 1st August (where has the year gone ?) the weather was lovely and the visibility really clear.

We needed a reasonable walk for Dylan, not too strenuous for Harry, yet satisfying for ourselves given the time available.

We chose the walk across to 'the chair' overlooking Loweswater, starting here at the gate above Fangs Brow Farm.

The walk would be about half the signposted distance, matched by a walk back retracing our steps on the return.

The ladder stile (or an optional gate again) leads down to Iredale Place in the valley below.

We wish to stay on the high ground and so continued along the upper track.

A missing cap stone creates a frame for this mid-summer mum.

The others "flock" over to join her.

The cattle on the other hand have taken the high ground and are enjoying a little light relaxation.

As we pass on the track we can see over the cattle to Askill Farm and Fellbarrow in the far distance.

Ahead is Loweswater . . . and the view over to Grasmoor and the north western fells.

The ladder stile is more awkward, especially with a muddy puddle behind, but the gate opens, no problem.

The track to High Nook and Loweswater Church continues along the slopes of Burnbank.

Our view now includes the start of Crummock Water.

Summer colours blend together as this Rowan merges with the bracken and trees behind. 

Even the yellow berries of this variety don't stand out today.

Gone is the spring contrast of all the different shades of green . . . all is 'much of a much-ness' now.

The classic view from the classic viewpoint.

As I stand back and take the photos, Dylan can take advantage of the seat . . . smug or what !

Hold your cursor over the picture to see his face.

From the front this time . . . faces are always nicer.

A wider aspect taken once my seat was vacated and I could relax for a few minutes.

Gone 6 pm now on this lovely evening and big skies ahead of us as we turn to walk back to the car.

The visibility is so good we can see the detail on the distant slopes of Criffel across the Solway in Scotland.

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When I quickly posted the first sunset a few days ago on Facebook

we thought the sunsets couldn't get much better.

Tonight (Thursday) we looked out of the window and grabbed the cameras once again.

Grasmoor was a shining mass of pinks and yellows.

Ann ran down the road a few yards to get a clear view across the fields.

I headed for the phone box and took a panorama from there.

Into Rose Cottage's garden to make sure the guests there had seen the display . . . but they were out.

Still the sunset continues, subtly changing colour, slowly but surely every few minutes.

Ann returned to the gate to look at the last of the sunset.

The north western glow of mid-summer as the light begins to fade behind Low Fell.

Oh well . . . time to draw the curtains on another day.

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