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On our return home from West Wales we get back into the swing of everyday life. 

It seems that Cumbria has been fortunate with its weather of late and the first few days back are a delight. 

Time to check out both the valley and the garden to see what's changed . . . and to enjoy local walks once again.

The Kirkstile Inn as seen from Kirkgate Farm.

A similar photo to this still holds pride of place as our background screen on our PC.  The original picture from 2004 has bare winter trees

and a view of our cottage through a gap.  Since 2004 the pub has built a new bedroom this end and also enlarged their veranda room on the front.

However, the fells are timeless . . . and from here we can see the fells from Whiteside and Grasmoor round to Mellbreak.

Behind them are Sand Hill, Whiteless Pike and Robinson in the far distance.

The low afternoon sun shines in the lens but the dogs can still be seen due to their golden outlines.

Delightful autumn colours on the oak, the bracken and the darker heather slopes of Grasmoor.

In the woods beneath Mellbreak, autumn weather has brought out the mushrooms and fungi.

A whole colony of a brown variety of fungi alongside the path.

The sun giving a real burst of colour as we walk on through Flass (white) Woods.

From here, the trees to the right of the bridleway and the wall form part of Green Wood which extends along the slope under Mellbreak.

Clouds to the north of us could be seen forming a false horizon

as we leave the woods and look across the valley to Low Fell and Whiteside.

We seem to be having the best of the weather, with storms to the north in Scotland and heavy rain across the south of England.

Sitting quietly for their photo . . . after which they are off and racing down the path to the lake at speed,

certainly a lot faster than I would even if I was a super-fit fell runner . . .which I'm not !

Turning to take a photo of the reflections . . . they are in the photo again, but they are already down at the edge of the lake.

Looking at the the green of Peel headland across Sandy Yat Bay.

Down here the lack of wind gives lovely reflections up the length of Crummock.

The lack of recent rain is also reflected in the low water level and the number of exposed stones down at the beach.

A wider late afternoon photo, across the lake from the small beach towards the boathouse.

The shadow of Mellbreak now extends across Crummock and climbs the fells opposite as the sun drops.

- - - o o o - - -

Back home . . . and chance for a quick check of the garden after our holiday.

The runner beans have continued to give us a late crop but the other green veg have more or less stopped growing.

Lined up for winter are some nice sprouts but many of the leeks have bolted and are now rather woody.

I can see a leek soup rather than cheesy leek bake being on the menu.