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As friends leave so family arrives. We were delighted to entertain our grandson Jack and his girlfriend Catherine for a few days.

Unfortunately the weather has turned somewhat, so the walking was less than perfect.

She and Jack had climbed Mellbreak this morning taking advantage of a break in the cloud, but it was quite wet underfoot.

They were guided round by trusty mountain dog Dylan.

After lunch they were up for another short Harry-type-walk across to Loweswater Bothy.

	I thought of using this John Houseman 1821 map for our walk after Peter Burgess showed me a copy . . . but it was a 196 years out of date. It does however show High Nook Farm, Watergate the Church and the Kirkstile (though it calls it Castle). No sign of Oak Cottage but it does exists on a later 1847 Parish map.

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So to the afternoon of the 14th November . . .

Jack, Catherine and Monty Don . . . I mean myself . . . it's my little brother who looks like Monty Don.

Ann was taking the photo of course.

We park at Maggie's Bridge and head off towards High Nook Farm.

I point out the Loweswater Pheasant to Catherine as she hasn't seen the February page of the Loweswatercam Calendar 2018

Rather than head up to the farm we turned right along the permissive footpath to Watergate.

In the field was a hay turner and I explained to them how it worked once it was on the back of the tractor.

Darling Fell and Low Fell were looking rather misty as we reached the side of Loweswater.

The only ripples on the lake were from Harry and Dylan

but the poor weather conditions meant that reflections were not great anyway.

Stand by the gate again for a photo . . . Jack attempts to get there in one stride.

Didn't even break into a sweat . . . but it took a while and Harry had time to sit down for his photo.

Through Holme Woods towards The Bothy.

The ancient quarries on Darling Fell appear as a grey streak across the opposite fell side.

At the bothy Jack took advantage of the rope swing as no-one was at home.

Heads up . . . or should I say heads down . . . on Mellbreak at the far end of the lake.

Meanwhile Catherine and Ann indulged in a more leisurely lady-like pursuit . . . the white specs on the photo are rain.

As Catherine and Jack had enjoyed a longer walk this morning we called it a day and returned to the car.

On the way back I decided to try and photo the colourful autumnal beech that have held onto their leaves despite the gales.



Looking across towards the houses at Thrushbank . . .	. . . but with the flash working it is a different picture.

The extra light at this time of day really brought out the colours.

Some were yellows . . . others a more mature brown.

Back out in the open and a close encounter with the Dept of the Environment boat.

Sadly the lake no longer supports a fleet of public rowing boats.

This one is kept for monitoring the water quality of the lake.

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