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A new month and a change of weather after the brief snow on the high fells

that we saw from our last outing.  Now we are back to mild weather and a complete thaw.

Jo was in Loweswater overnight and enjoyed a late morning walk on Rannerdale with us before driving home.

Rannerdale Knotts, here with late afternoon sunshine on the summit, is always an attractive local walk.

Jo had limited time today so it will be a great option to stretch our legs.

It is just before 1pm and we've parked at Hause Point car park

on the opposite side of Crummock Water from Mellbreak. The sky is overcast, the high fells in mist and the sun yet to arrive.

The old ash tree by the water is looking a little sadder each year

but is still holding that last finger of its broken trunk to the sky.

We take the footpath up towards the hause of Hause Point. 

It has been pitched but still needs care as there are several damp and short rocky sections on the way up.

We look back here towards Low Fell at the foot of the lake.

From the second rocky outcrop there's a nice view up the Buttermere Valley to Wood House

with Fleetwith Pike and Haystacks at the top.  Brandreth and Great Gable are yet to show.

Harry going strong as we climb the steep pitched section of the climb.

His back legs are showing their age but he managed the climb, apart from the odd help up the tallest of the steps.

Looking down on Hause Point which is now some distance below.

Across the way the dark slopes are Blea Crag at the end of Lingcomb Edge, with Scale Force waterfall on the beck that flows from the centre.

Behind it is Starling Dodd, rounded Gale Fell and a hint of Great Borne in the distant haze before you pan right to Scale Knott and Mellbreak.

Looking down on Rannerdale Farm with Loweswater now visible in the distance.

You can see our house . . . if you had a strong pair of binoculars !

Dylan watched Ann, Jo and Amber climbing up the more grassy route. . . as another fellwalking couple descend.

Summit achieved . . . and the view is clearing as a reward.

A zig-zag action reduces the steepness of the descent and gives us a change of view.

Sometimes we descend to the path seen below but today we're heading for the tenth gorse bush above the higher of the two sheep.

Looking back you get a measure of the steepness of the diagonal descent.

A landmark ancient hawthorn tree guides us horizontally towards the upper hause of Hause Point,

where we had viewed Wood House from earlier on in the climb.

Back on familiar territory with the ascent path we used earlier just below us.

Across the way the hard rock strata of Rannerdale Knotts

is reflected in the rocky outcrops of High and Low Ling Crags on the other side of the lake.

In time for the end of the walk the sun finds a way through the clearing cloud

and brightens the last section of the walk back down to the car.

Jo had to return to her home after the walk today

so it was decided to call into Croft Cafe in Buttermere for a light lunch before she left us.

Out of season, the Bridge Hotel is having some major roof repairs,

but underneath the lights are on and they're open for business.

A large bowl of warming soup with a lovely fresh roll . . . and our appetites were assuaged.

Jo returned to our home to collect her bags and enjoyed a lovely drive over Honister for a change, on her way back to York.

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