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Margaret and Catherine her daughter are in the Lakes for the weekend and I'm delighted to accommodate them here in Loweswater.

On the Saturday they requested a walk up onto Rannerdale as they were unable to join myself and the family back in July

On the Sunday we also enjoyed a shorter walk up onto Scale Hill, dodging the Fred Whitton bike riders on the way back home.

The day started rather damp and grey but showed signs of clearing

and by the time we were driving to Hause Point at Rannerdale the sun was making an appearance.

This was Mellbreak as viewed across Crummock Water.

May I introduce Catherine and her mum Margaret, my walking companions today, in fact for the whole weekend.

We've started to climb up the end of Rannerdale Knotts.

The traffic has been very light today but looking down there seems to be a procession of cars . . .



The second one had a cameraman standing up through the open sunroof.	He was followed by a backup set of cars . . .

This appeared to be Tom Cruise's team recording a bit of local footage for the latest "Mission Impossible" film.

Perhaps the man himself was in the first car . . . but it's been raining and the soft top on the first car was closed, so difficult to say !

The head of the valley was suffering worse weather than ourselves

as a rain shower crossed from Ennerdale and headed off left towards Honister.

By the time we reached the summit the rain had stopped

[ and the camera setting had been unknowingly knocked into soft focus mode.]

No . . . it's not water on the lens . . . the camera wants to be artistic !

Soft focus Buttermere . . . as we walked along Low Bank and headed on towards the village.

As a result of the damp conditions the sheep are still sheltering under the large field oak down near Crag Cottages.

Down in the village at about lunchtime . . . where shall we head to next ?

	- - - o o o - - - Syke Farm Cafe looked inviting and has a reputation for fine lunches and brilliant ice cream. We restrained ourselves and Catherine and I just had a soup Though Margaret pushed the boat out with something more exotic. - - - o o o - - -

We had a lovely lunch but to be fair . . . other cafés are available.

	- - - o o o - - - Today we decided to stay low and not re-climb the fell to walk Rannerdale Valley. Instead we walked down through the National Park car park (see notice) and headed for the shore of Crummock Water This was the view (soft focus again for some reason) as we looked back up the Buttermere Valley towards Haystacks. - - - o o o - - -

Dougal wants to play sticks on the beach but there's not many about.

Here we're looking across the water to Holme Island, Scale Island and Scale Knott on the far side of the lake.

Following the path around the shore of the lake we reach the boat landings below Wood House

where there is actually is a boat this year.

Looking through the oak woodland at the route we've just crossed from Nether How and the beach.

Another small rocky outcrop known as Woodhouse Island.

Being inaccessible to sheep, all the islands of the lake stand out as being able to grow some natural trees and vegetation.

	- - - o o o - - - We cross the valley road once more and head out on what was once the old road from Buttermere to Loweswater. The highest part of the track at Hause Point shows signs of the pathway being cut for, or worn away, by cart wheels. Along the way we passed a lovely Rowan tree and an inquisitive Herdwick sheep beneath. - - - o o o - - -

Over the top and down the other side, back to our car at the smaller Hause Point car park.

In the fields of Rannerdale Farm there's a "Trail Hounds" event underway.

For those that haven't heard of the sport before . . . it is fox hounds without a fox, a sport first invented back in the 18th Century.

The 'trail hounds' are specifically trained to follow a pre-laid aniseed scent and it becomes a dog-based cross country race.

The Hound Trailing Association was started in 1906 and the formal rules of the sport have remained largely unchanged ever since.

Some folk are not following the chase . . . choosing instead to paddle board and picnic on the hause.

[ I hope they don't leave any mess for others to clear up ! ]

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Walk over, we head home for a little rest and recuperation.



The hot tub was suitably warm . . .	. . . and the Kirkstile Inn booked for a meal later that evening.

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Before margaret and Catherine have to head back towards Leeds, they do have time for a Sunday morning walk.



Better weather than at the start of yesterday's walk.	We head out for a short hour's walk up onto Scale Hill.

From the car park we head off into Lanthwaite Woods taking the upper path at the first junction.

We doubled back soon after, onto the top track back towards the old Scale Hill Hotel.

From there we picked up the smaller and craggier footpath towards the summit.

Some old Victorian steps lead us up through the woods.



Life becomes a little more vertical . . .	. . . but then we emerge from the trees and out onto more level ground.

Just a short walk and we'll be on the top . . . that's Grasmoor's misty summit showing behind.

Scale Hill summit view, looking up the valley towards Buttermere and the High Stile Ridge.

Looking down on The Peel and Sandy Yat, the beach underneath Mellbreak.

Turning more westerly we can see over to the Loweswater Fells and Holme Wood.

In between here and there are the scattered houses of the Hamlet of Loweswater.

There are a lot of bikes passing through the valley today.

We take a circular route from the summit and head back to Scale Hill car park via the Lanthwaite Green bridleway.

More bikes . . . no great surprise as today is the day of the Fred Witton

The Fred Whitton Challenge consists of a 113 mile sportive around the Lake District.

It starts at Grasmere and takes in climbs of Kirkstone, Honister, Newlands, Whinlatter, Hardknott, Wrynose and Blea Tarn passes

before the participants return to Grasmere at the end of an epic day's riding.

There were over 2000 participants this year and the fastest rider completed the course in a shade under six hours.



It is not so much a race as a challenge . . .	. . . as was evident on the faces of the riders.

They are not all youngsters either as entrants span all ages, both men and women.

Once my guests and I had had our lunch at the cottage, all the riders had passed through Loweswater

so Catherine and Margaret had an easier run back to Keswick and on to their homes.

Lovely to see you both this weekend.

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