The Mob were out again . . . not the longest of walks but not a simple one by any means either.

We were heading out to climb King's How, the fell that overlooks the Jaws of Borrowdale.

A round trip from the Bowder Stone car park would give us a strenuous climb to the top

and then we would walk back via the old Victorian tourist attraction down in the valley.

It was a beautiful Lakeland day as we set off up the Buttermere Valley.

The drive up Honister and down the other side to Grange for us, would be shorter than going via Whinlatter.

It would also offer classic views this morning as well.

No trip up the valley is complete without a photo of the Buttermere Pines.

Over Honister and down the other side and we have our first view of King's How today.

The assembled group just prior to starting off.

Peter, Loes, Elly, Lois, John, David, Katrina, Judy, Joan and Kathryn (Ann, Hugh and myself are out of picture)

Our leader Peter outlined the route . . . up through the woods via the pitched path, so admired by Wainwright when the autumn colours are on offer.

He promised views of Derwent Water and Borrowdale from the top,

and then we would then return via the famous Bowder stone . . . how far away would that be Peter ?

We headed up through the delightfully named Cummacatta Woods . . .

passing not the famous rock, but a similar large lump of stone that had also fallen from the cliffs above the valley.

From an old slate quarry site we looked back at Castle Crag, standing defiantly in the centre of the Borrowdale Valley.

Another boulder, this one with a 'stepped' side, which allowed the dogs to climb to the top.

Once through the gate it was a short walk across to the foot of the fell . . . and across to the start of the main climb.

As we climbed, the occasional views through the trees revealed more and more of Derwent Water and Skiddaw.

A fallen tree next to the path supported a fine bracket fungus.

" Not far now Loes . . . . it's not too bad is it ? "

I think her expression says it all !

At the head of the steep but delightful climb there was a brief stop on the level ground

so we could relax, appreciate the climb and admire our surroundings.

Another gap in the trees gave us views across the Grange Fell Crags

and to the summits of Ether Knott and Brown Dodd.

Before the final climb there's a narrow upland valley known as Long Moss, with a slightly boggy section to avoid.

This is the Kings How Memorial Stone.

I noted ten years ago that the writing was fast becoming illegible.

The intervening years have done nothing to help and very few words are still recognisable today.

This was it back in 2012 when I commented . . .

"When King Edward VII died in 1910 his sister, Princess Louise, purchased Grange Fell (and this area now known as King's How)

and through the National Trust, donated it to the nation as a memorial to the late King.

The plaque records the facts for as long as the writing remains legible."

Princess Louise was an early benefactor of the newly created National Trust

and officiated at the opening of their first land acquisition at Brandlehow Woods, at about the same time as this.

From the top of King's How we were rewarded with the view north of Derwent Water, Skiddaw and Blencathra.

Turning 180 degrees we could see the Scafells and Great Gable beyond the head of the Borrowdale Valley.

Too early for lunch so we rewarded ourselves with coffee and pieces of Karen's flapjack brought especially for the occasion.

It tasted even better after that steep climb.

Our coffee-time view down over Grange Village and across to Catbells.

While the group relaxed I took the opportunity for a photographic look around.

We descended the southern side on a more gradual path, weaving down through the crags and the dying bracken.

Ahead were ever improving views of Rosthwaite and the Borrowdale Valley.

A stand of larch turned out to be one fallen tree

that had survived sufficiently that the upwards pointing branches had each grown into trees in their own right.

We were dropping down nicely and were now level with the top of Castle Crag, some 330 feet lower than King's How.

Soon we were down at road level . . . but Peter knew of a path that meant we didn't need to walk along the roadway.

After reaching the valley and thinking the climbing was over

there was in fact one more little up and down before we reached the Bowder Stone.

Still . . . the views of Borrowdale from the path today were as good as they get.

The short climb was soon followed by the equivalent descent and the road was in sight once more.

Here we looked across to Goat Crag and High Steel Knott, with the crags of Nitting Haws away to the right.

Out came the leads for the first time in the day.

I crossed the road to view the river as it was invitingly close.

This was the Derwent as it entered the narrows under Castle Crag.  The reflections in the pools were perfect.