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Richard and Hilary are quite familiar with the Lakes and so the challenge is on

to find them an afternoon walk that includes something they haven't done before. 

I'm thinking of changing my camera so today I was offered Richard's lighter Sony Alpha 6000 to see how it performs for me.

[ He used his Sony 7R SLR and this report is a compilation of both cameras and photographers ]

It was a lovely day and chance to enjoy the garden in the morning.

Plenty to do as always . . . this retirement lark is busier than you ever imagined !

We have friends over for lunch and a walk . . . but there's always time for coffee and a chat beforehand.

Hilary and Richard are staying in their caravan at Coniston.

They too have retired and use their 'van to the full during the summer months for extended tours of the UK.

Morning coffee turns to early lunch under the sunshade . . . who says we don't get fine weather up here !

Rather than lunch up on the fells, we enjoy our sandwiches in the garden and therefore can enjoy a bonus cup of tea before we go.

This shot including Richard . . . and Dylan making sure he gets in-shot too.

Time to go . . .

Trying out the camera on the rather nice hanging basket we bought this year.

Close up and personal.

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We drove the short distance to Maggie's Bridge, basically to avoid two lots of half-mile road walking for Harry.

A fellow walker kindly offered to take this group shot of the four (or is that six) of us.

Decisions, decisions . . . clockwise or anti-clockwise.

The clockwise have it . . . as we head off towards High Nook  Farm.

Carling Knott . . . an overlooked fell by Wainwright even though he stayed at High Nook Farm B&B during his walking days.

The farmer and the National Trust are encouraging the flower meadows in the valley with great effect.

The 'new wall' is starting to blend in . . . strange how they've left a gap at this end with no gate or fence.

It is so warm that most sheep are sheltering in the shade under the trees.

High Nook showing signs of Dave's young family with more toys than a normal farmyard.

. . . the scaffolding protects the barn end which collapsed in the gales last year.

Climbing up into the blue skies above the valley.

Harry, no time to shelter under trees, chooses the small stream to cool down.

Better still the deeper water of High Nook Tarn has plenty of room for two.

The visit to the tarn by Richard and Hilary is a first for them  . . . but they passed on a swim today !

The shallow nature of the tarn means we can see the detail of the bed of the lake.

Around the edge the blue dragonflies dart and hover, here one on the side reed catches the sunlight on its wings.

Richard experiments in  catching the sunlight too . . . the plants are bog beans (Menyanthes trifoliata)

In the lake there are a number of small islands . . .

the rowan sapling and heather growing on the island are reflected nicely in the blue of the sky.

Moving around the tarn, the background changing from Blake Fell to Carling Knott.

The advantage of being an island is that the sheep don't incur onto their micro-habitat,

and so the vegetation reflects what the general landscape could look like without the sheep.

Walking would be more difficult, that's for sure.

That's a strange addition to the middle island . . . how did that get there ?

Having waded out in the shallow water Dylan returns and rolls on the grass to dry off.

One time he rolled so far and nearly fell in  . . . hold your cursor over the picture to see his expression !

Harry preferred to 'drip-dry' as we set off on the next part of the walk.

Skirting around the edge of the hanging valley we walked across to regain the track that we used on the way up.

A fine wall surrounds the fields of High Nook Farm.

The panorama includes Low fell, Whinlatter's Lords Seat, Whiteside, Hopegill Head and Grasmoor.

Hilary and I . . . hatted against the burning rays of the Loweswater sun.

'Harry no-hat' takes advantage of the overhanging bracken cover to get out of the direct sun for a short while.

Looking back as Richard and Ann walk up the track.

High Nook Tarn blends in as the flat green area below Black Crags, its colour now reflecting the bracken that surrounds it.

Across the way we can see the track we used on the way up . . . the upper path climbs up and left into the White Oak valley.

Red Pike and High Stile can be seen above the slopes of Hen Comb now as the path we are on continues to climb.

We've reached the "beak of the pheasant".

The last few trees planted within the wall create the sharp point of the bird's imaginary beak when viewed from Low Fell.

Ann completes the final climb on the path around the back of Holme Woods . . . it's downhill all the way now.

The track, also known as the Fangs Brow coffin route has the chair around the next corner

but we'll cut down soon and enter the trees in order to follow Holme Beck down through the woods.

Despite appearances, there is a good path across to the gate in the wall.

It has been a good year for the rowan trees this year and the variety with red berries are particularly colourful.

Richard holds back for a photo as Dylan leads the way down through the trees.

These spruces have all grown up since we have lived here as they clear-felled the next section of this path when we first arrived.

The view across to Myresyke and Askill farm through the trees.

We stop and talk to fellow walkers as we make our way the diagonal path through the woods.

The young girl stands back to start but gives Harry a cuddle before we part company.

We swap our footpath for the first of the forest tracks that descends through the woods.

The occasionally muddy track leads down to a bridge over Holme Beck where Ann photographs Richard . . .

. . . taking a picture of the lower section of Holme Force in its summer plumage.

Richard chooses a horizontal format as opposed to my vertical one above.

Hold your cursor over the picture to freeze his picture in time.

While we were heading up, the ladies headed off down to the lake . . .

. . . and we find them sitting on the bench by the water's edge.

After a while and a few sticks thrown for the dogs, we continue on around the lakeside path to the bothy.

Another bench . . . not used today.

Likewise the rope swings hang quietly and unused in the shade of the trees.

 A classic photo just asking to be taken

as we emerge from the shadows of the wood into the sunshine of the Watergate meadows.

This family group were enjoying the view from the water's edge as we walked by.

Mellbreak comes into view once more as we start back across the meadows.

Whiteside and Grasmoor are the backdrop now as we walk back to the car.

Little feet can't cope with the gaps in the cattle grid.

More rowan's displaying their vibrant colour on the side of the track.

Red . . . white . . . and blue.

An old coppiced sycamore gives the hint of an ancient hedge or fence line alongside the farm track.

One more cattle grid . . .

. . . and we're back at the car.

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Shall we go back to the house on this hot and thirsty day . . .

. . . or shall we refresh ourselves at a local hostelry ?

After all . . . it gives me the chance for an extra photographic location for Richard's camera.

and me to try out his other camera one last time . . . (note the subliminal advertising)

Drinks and crisps are all very well  but what about a proper supper ?

Thanks to Richard and Hilary for your great company today.

Glad we found enough new places to make the walk special for you too.

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