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Our family arrive for a few days in Loweswater and, with the weather being fine, walking was on their agenda.

The first evening we stay locally and enjoy a swim, but next day Jack and Catherine head for the hills, which was to fill their day.

On the other hand our other daughter Paula and friend Sue were just starting twelve longs days of a third type of walking, west to east.

Do join us here in pictures . . . and see what suits you best.

Ann, daughter Cathy in front, grandson Jack and girlfriend Catherine behind.

Bilbo and Boris are giving Dylan companionship for a few days

It is a beautiful afternoon and after their drive up Jack and Catherine just wanted a shorter walk

of an hour or so and on this nice late afternoon . . . why not a local dip in the river too ?

Mellbreak . . . the fields and face of the fell are looking a lot more yellow in recent weeks due to the lack of rain.

Over the wall, looking northwest along the length of Loweswater, with Darling Fell and Low Fell to the right.

Bilbo is one of Cathy's two spaniels.

Bilbo leads the way into the water when we reach "Harry's Pool" . . .

. . . soon followed by the other two.

Interestingly Dylan has done a lot more free swimming since our Harry died.

The reason was that Harry swam to fetch the sticks and Dylan just 'borrowed' them when he returned to shallow water.

Now Dylan has to fetch them himself if he wants to chew them or wants us to re-throw.

A quiet little spot . . . keep it to yourselves . . . don't tell everyone about it !

Back down the lane towards . . .

. . . the Kirkstile Inn . . . and a quick aperitif before we continue on home.

- - - o o o - - -

Next morning Jack and Catherine fancied a walk up Rannerdale Knotts and offered to take all three dogs.

The view north and west include Mellbreak and Low Fell, Crummock water and Loweswater

and through the gap, the Scottish hills of Dumfries and Galloway.

Bilbo again . . . he's a Welsh Springer spaniel as opposed to Boris who's the darker brown 'English' variety.

Where's Dylan at this time ?

Up ahead again . . . no the two on the left are sheep . . . look again.

He's found the hollow where a small spring offers a cooling dip in a pool . . . not that it is very big today.

It does offer a nice view of the lake however.

The wider panorama now includes the bright yellow grass on Low Ling Crag on the other side of the lake.

Bilbo . . . enjoying being a mountain dog.

Dylan enjoying being a summiteer.

The summit reached . . . it is time to sit, rest . . . and if you want, take in the view.

Jack has his picture taken with all three dogs.

The camera changes hands and the shutter catches a similar scene.

The view south to the high fells.

Great Gable is the highest in the distance . . . but it is an optical illusion as the ridge of the Scafells behind and to the right is higher.

One last photo before they leave the summit.

The path along Low Bank takes them past the other rocky summits or knotts of Rannerdale.

Another minor summit celebrated.

Jack and Paula . . . dressed for "going out" not fell walking.

Myself, Sue and Cathy complete the group tonight.

Sorry no picture of the nice food at The Shepherds Arms as we were talking too much !

Sunset at just before ten o'clock across the Solway Plain . . .

. . . which cast a pink hue on Ennerdale and the next section of Paula and Sue's walk tomorrow.