Living next to the road we see all sorts of folk going past, but it's not everyday that the kitchen window is so full of activity.

Today was one of those days as it was the annual Buttermere Horseshoe Fell Race.

The activity and the day inspired me to forgo the gardening jobs in favour of a local walk in the sunshine, for both Dougal and myself.

The Buttermere is also known as the Darren Holloway Memorial Race by the organisers, the Cumberland Fell Runners Club

The participants gradually arrived and cars began to spread across the field.

The race started at eleven o'clock from The Village Hall . . . and a minute or so later the runners were passing the cottage.

. . . encouraged on by a marshall and by Dylan and Dougal.

They were starting what would be an ultra race, one I believe that counted towards the British Championships.

There were two routes, a short one via Buttermere and a longer, full course via the head of the valley.

The header map will give you an idea of the task that lay ahead of them.

Mellbreak looked attractive and would be a good walk after my recent few weeks away from the fells.

My route would climb the north facing (front) of the fell, climbing close to the right hand skyline, with the return via the terrace path on the right hand, Mosedale side.

We haven't hit the steeper slope yet, but stopping to take this view back did give me the excuse for a brief and dare I say it, necessary rest.

Now we're climbing . . .

This is a great way up Mellbreak as you gain height so quickly, zig-zagging up through the heather and thereby avoiding the worst of the scree.

This is the view looking across to "Dropping Crag" and down to the houses at High Park and Crummock Water.

Whiteside, Hopegill Head, Grasmoor and Whiteless Pike.

The short course does all these fells then cuts down to Buttermere Village and returns via Scale Force and Mellbreak before heading back to The Hall.

The long course continued around the high ground at the head of the valley, as seen in this photo.

My location here was the spot Wainwright called the "Peep Round the Corner".

I was not fast on the climb . . . yet I was considerably quicker than this fellah.

The North Top . . . achieved in a reasonable time for me (but I'll not tell you exactly what).

My chance to share the view with yourselves.

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

The undulating and slightly rocky path through the heather gradually drops towards the valley.

As we reach the break of slope the bracken really takes over, which makes a direct descent to the track below less attractive in the summer months.

Instead I continue on the path and head back for the 'fire break'

and that walled track seen wending its way between the fields below.

The buildings in the last photo I now see in close up . . . as I pass the Kirkstile Inn.

They have been painting the outside of the pub this year and the scaffolding is still up . . . it is really shining in the bright sun.

I've already been passed by a few of the 'short course runners' on their way back to The Village Hall,

but I'll be heading back to the cottage for my end-of-walk refreshment today.