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Trevor and Gill were over in Loweswater and with Finlay (of Borrowdale).

They hadn't walked many of the local fells this side of the big hills so we set out to walk Low Fell with them.

We have climbed Low Fell several times ourselves so today we reversed the route, after first parking transport at Thackthwaite.

Our starting point would be the red phone box at Loweswater (more or less)

but this time we would head out over the fields towards Foulsyke House rather than along the road to the Kirkstile.

First a photo call for the trio . . . Dylan, Harry and Finlay of Borrowdale.

Even after quite a lengthy pre-amble when the two young dogs met and chased each other round and round the house and garden,

it was still a challenge to get all three sitting quietly for a photo prior to the walk.

" SIT . . . and look at the camera for the nice man !" says Gill.

I think Trevor had the better option on this one as Harry shows Dylan how to sit quietly for a picture.

He hasn't quite taught him how to smile for the camera yet though !

Time to be off . . . we had already parked a car at Thackthwaite for the journey home.

All we had to do was walk the skyline and off the other end and it would be game-over.

Into the woods below Low Fell that go by the delightful name of Whinny Ridding.

The view across the Lorton valley is of Swinside and distant Lord's Seat near Whinlatter.

We were soon up at the old pine tree which is a feature of this side of the fell.

Looking great in the sunshine . . . I hope I look that good at his age !

The view from the tree has the three valleys spread out at our feet

Lorton Valley to the left, Buttermere (and Crummock) ahead and Loweswater to the right.

The new owners of Godferhead have cleaned out the old marsh recently

and they are in the process of  creating a lovely wildlife pond alongside their farm.

We leave the tree and head around the face of Low Fell on a fairly horizontal path.

The steep end of Low Fell turned out to be easier to ascend after the rain of the morning, as we had surmised back at the house.

Had we walked it from the other end, this steep descent at the end of the afternoon would have been rather slippery.

Trevor encourages the three dogs onto the stone for a photo . . . but with little success.

Still they were waiting at the top when I arrived . . . so that solved the problem.

Finlay is now a year old and nearly fully grown, Dylan is eight months and has had a big growth spurt over the summer.

Harry is a mature dog . . . we don't talk ages . . . and doesn't need to grow any more thank you.

" Finlay of Borrowdale " . . . the name seems to suit him.

From the southern viewpoint the world is set out before us.

Ann and Gill sit, chat and watch the youngsters play . . . and the rest of us stand (or sit) and enjoy the view.

Can't stay all afternoon as we have the longer half of the walk to do when we walk this direction.

Down to the left is Loweswater, seen from the southern summit cairn.    Darling Fell is the adjacent grass covered peak.

Time to walk the ridge . . . Fellbarrow is the most distant summit but we'll pass on that today.

The view of the Whinlatter Valley and Skiddaw from the true summit cairn.   That's Binsey over the back.

Down the steep back to the middle gate and then on to Watching Crag.

A rather muddy gate at the start of the descent down to Thackthwaite.

The old route zig-zags down into the valley of Meregill Beck,

the water from which will join the River Cocker between Littlethwaite and Lorton.

After the recent rain the path seems to have sprung a leak !

A natural spring bubbles up and sends a cascade of water down our path and we have to walk to one side.

A dry path once again as we round the bend and head towards the main valley.

In the clearer air following recent rains, the features of Hopegill Head, Whiteside and Grasmoor are really well defined.

Down to the 'intake' fence with the view of Great Gable and Scafell Pike clear beyond the top of Rannerdale Knotts.

Late afternoon sunshine on Grasmoor.

Safely down to Thackthwaite and to our waiting car.

Hopefully we have the keys . . . don't laugh . . . one time we forgot to put them in the rucksack !

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