Next morning there was a fresh layer on High Stile and the surrounding fells.

Hen Comb looked an attractive option for a walk above the snow line. . . but life got in the way for a short time.

By the time the chores were done, the snow on lower slopes had more or less melted,

so I decided to alter my route to include Blake, Gavel and possibly the other local Fells.  This was the photo of Carling Knott from my house.

I've climbed all the other Loweswater Fells in recent months so an ascent of Gavel would finish off the group nicely.

I set off past Rose Cottage, looking resplendent as a result of the sudden clearing of the skies,

and headed up the road towards the four distant tops you can see above the field behind my neighbouring cottage.

The Village Hall and Old School House at the top of the hill.

This would be the scene of Jubilee festivities in weeks to come.

The view of Carling Knott and Burnbank after I took the left turn towards Maggie's Bridge.

Late Spring and the pheasant shape of the woodland really stands out today.

The track to High Nook Farm in the valley ahead.

A new gate and short track ?

The river on the left has undermined the bank over the winter and the main track is in slight danger of collapse,

so they've constructed an alternative route to the farm in case another flood takes more bank away.

Up through the farm yard, greeted in the usual noisy way by the sheepdogs in the kennels.

Unperturbed, my two continue on to the gate that will lead us to the open fell.

The true "intake" gate where the last wall is left behind and land becomes "open access".

Gavel Fell ahead at the top of the split, High Nook valley.

The dogs and I divert slightly to reach High Nook Tarn, tucked away at the side of the valley under Black Crag.

Dougal immediately took to the water and ended up, soaking wet on the small island.

Hold your cursor over the picture to watch him dry off.

[ This may not work on some computers ]

In diverting to the tarn we came across other fell walkers, Peter and Kay Harris.

They had made an earlier start than I and were heading down towards Mellbreak and Crummock . . . nice to meet you and chat.

At the head of the valley, White Oak Beck splits

with one arm heading up towards Blake and the other towards Hen Comb and White Oak Moss.

The stone wall structure is in fact an old sheep fold at the base of the slope . . . it has seen better days !

The wall under Carling Knott, seen in the last photo, extends in a straight line up the fell, but by this time it had become a wire fence.

That too has perished, but two old gateposts and a few stones still define the line.

thereby delaying my ascent of Gavel which I could have done by simply heading straight up the fence line !

From my vantage point above the waterfall, I had fabulous views across to the Central Fells, still snow covered even in the sunshine.

The summit and shelter of Carling Knott, with distant Criffel mountain far away on the other side of the Solway Estuary.

Good job I had put some suncream on before I started as the sun really was as bright as it looked here.

Looking out to sea . . . two ravens cross the slopes of Blake Fell.

Did you spot what was beyond them, fourty nine miles away as the ravens may fly ?

For once the summit of Snaefell on the isle of Man lives up to its Viking name . . . Snae Fell . . . the Snowy Mountain.

The sun may have been shining but the cool breeze kept the temperature down

hence the thick icebreaker shirt and an warm gilet top.

[ Photo by self timer of course, there was no-one else about.]

I continued on the extra distance to the end of Carling Knott

to catch the classic view down over the three valleys.

In the distance, the snow covered summit of Skiddaw.

Below me the full expanse of Loweswater itself.

The reverse of my earlier photo . . . that's my house from Carling Knott.

Retracing my steps to the summit and then heading on towards Blake Fell.

A large pool or small tarn in the slopes of Blake Fell, with views across to Fleetwith Pike.

A new fence and step stile before I reached the summit . . . the dogs almost had to jump over till I spotted the lift up dog gate.

'Sheltering' from the breeze at the summit shelter on Blake Fell.

Again, moving this time just a short way from the summit, I get a view of Knock Murton and Cogra Moss.

Time to move on . . . this time towards Gavel Fell.

 

The final few hundred yards to Gavel were a lot more boggy than I remember.

I started the day with the aim of reaching this summit . . . and now at last I'm here.

My chance to share the all-round view with you.

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

It was later than I thought so dug deep into my small day sack and found some biscuits for me and even some for the dogs,

which we enjoyed as we looked down on the next section of the walk.

- - - o o o - - -   A red stick in the bog attracted me, it seemed strange to see it there. It was most probably a fibre glass survey stick that had been missed or abandoned by an environmental student.   I thought I would extract it to see how long it was (and how deep the bog was). Hand over hand and it eventually came out. The peat layer was at least five or six feet deep. It was replaced as found but I could have been pushed even further in ! - - - o o o - - -

Safely over the bog, dry shod, it was now time to climb my final summit, Hen Comb.

Here I look across to the snow-sprinkled slopes of Great Bourne.

After a steep climb, the summit of Hen Comb . . . not enough snow to even to attempt a snowman !

Pausing to look around, there was still white stuff on the Helvellyn Range.

Black Crag on Fleetwith protected some northern facing snow patches

but Buttermere were probably selling lots of ice cream.

The mountain that caught my eye this morning, the snow covered High Stile.

The homeward leg was laid out before me now, as I head down towards home from the top of Hen Comb.

Carling Knott, where I stood and admired the view earlier, some three or more hours ago.

Down towards "Harry's Pool" and the river crossing of the Mosedale Beck.

The prospect of liquid refreshment encouraged me on.

So thirsty I forgot the camera till late on.	The hot tub was on so I could contemplate a second relaxation soon.

Today's short dog walk was extended to a full fell walk, which itself was extended further by circumstance along the way.

What a great day it turned out to be.