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A nice simple mountain just needs a simple walk in order to be appreciated.

Today Binsey from Binsey Cottage gave us that, but the weather added a complication, unplanned when we started off.

We also had a deadline . . . afternoon tea on the Orient Express waiting for us at Bass Lake Station . . . and they shut at five !

I was going to get you to "guess where" . . . but I've already told you !

My walking companion today is young Loes, with whom I walked St Bees recently.

She's walked most if not all the Wainwrights in the years she's lived in Cumbria, but hasn't climbed Binsey via this simple route before.

Parking near Binsey Cottage there's a gradual start and a wide path for the ascent.

Views over to Bassenthwaite Lake improve as we make our way up the fell.

Behind us is the Skiddaw Massif and a hazy view of Blencathra through the 'Dash Falls' gap.

Overwater and the "Back O'Skiddaw" fells.

On this climb the scenery lends itself to wide panoramas not vertical portrait photos.

It is turning out to be a good year for the heather . . . lovely colours but I feel it needs some greater contrast . . .

That's better !

We didn't particularly notice the breeze until we got to the top.

But when we tried to stand still for a photo it was a different story.

Loes's stance and Dougal's fur confirms the high wind speeds here on the summit !

No wonder those folk were tucked away in the summit cairn !

I stood by ground, protected slightly by the cairn, and spun carefully round for a full summit photo.

Click here or on the photo above for my 360 degree annotated panorama.

I often encourage the dogs to jump on the trig points but today I had firm hold of Dougal to make sure he didn't blow away !

Surprisingly Binsey is the northern-most Wainwright Fell, beating Caldbeck's High Pike by a good half a grid square !

No point in lingering too long . . . so we make our way over to the secondary cairn slightly out to the west.

Searching for paths hidden by the profusion of summer heather, we now make our way south from that cairn

over to the secondary ridge where we will get a better view of Bassenthwaite Lake.

Here again the breeze was strong, filling our jackets and swirling the long moorland grass.

For such a small fell the views back into the Lakes is excellent, even better had it been slightly clearer visibility.

We walked back along the outer ridge looking for a double path down off the fell.

Either a lot of fellwalking 'couples' walk side by side along this route . . . or the farmer uses it for his quad bike !

Nothing encourages a photo more than a good rock !

For those that invested in this year's Loweswatercam Calendar you might recognise this picture ?

The July 2021 page features Dylan and Dougal and the split rock . . . but not Loes.

[ Oooo . . . did I mention that the new 2022 Edition will be on sale on September the 6th 2021, just a few weeks from now. ]

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After such a windy climb we deserved a cup of tea at the newest cafe in the Lake District.

We adjourn to the refurbished Bassenthwaite Lake Station . . .

. . . where the Orient Express Train and our dining table awaits.

We'd booked a table on the train, but you can just turn up and use one of the many tables and chairs outside.

Sorry about the blur . . . excited at the prospect of a cream tea ;o)



The cafe and train are very dog friendly . . .	. . . and the cream teas are very people friendly.

Afterwards we walked through the train to explore the whole experience that the Orient Express provides.

The train was used in the 2017 Agatha Christie film directed by Kenneth Branagh and staring Dame Judi Dench, Johnny Depp and Michelle Pheiffer.

It was in this carriage that the fictional "Murder on the Orient Express" was perpetrated . . . watch how you go !

The third and final carriage is a beautiful Salon Car complete with Observation Platform.

The cafe owners Di and Simon, are planning to use this carriage for special events, meetings, family gatherings and wedding receptions.

It has a licensed bar and can hold nearly 50 people I believe (don't quote me on that).



Their first event, sadly passed by the time you read this, was Aug 14th.	Don't worry, they are planning lots of events in the months to come.

We head back up the platform and into the station buildings.

Inside they have several stunning artworks, this one made from welded metal, standing out in colour and three dimensions.



They also have a series of paintings of the old railway . . .	. . . and Loes wanted to donate her picture to be hung within the station.

The John S Gibb drawing has graced her home for many years but she'll be moving house in the coming months

and wanted it to have an alternative local home where it would be equally appreciated.

Where better than quarter of a mile from where it was originally drawn . . . the old train passing through the cutting alongside Bass Lake.

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