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Chance to drive over to Borrowdale to meet up with Trevor and Gill and of course for Dylan to enjoy a day out with his best mate Finlay.

Not the best of weather so we opt for a walk in the first part of Langstrath and enjoy both the scenery and a dry walk.

We're over in Borrowdale today using the road below Catbells.

This was the view at Brandelhow Point looking down on Derwent Water and across to Walla Crag and Lodore.

We're on the way to Grange for Dylan to meet young Finlay of Borrowdale.

The photo took several minutes to set up . . . once they had finished running around like mad idiots.

	- - - o o o - - - Today's walk will take us off to the right and we'll return from the left of this signpost. It can be found at the start of the walk where there's parking for four or five cars. - - - o o o - - -



The old red phone box set into the wall at Stonethwaite.	Damp roads and waterproofs to start the walk.

Passing the Langstrath Country Inn . . . the road ends here but we carry on up the lane at the end of the houses.



A sun sculpture in the window.	The famous slate plaque by the seat.

However the weather in the valley can't quite match up to the Langstrath's artwork.

Dry but humid as we walk past the entrance to the campsite.

In years to come maybe people will look back on the prices here as we do on sites we used in our younger days.

The cascades at Galleny Force before the river splits into Greenup Gill and Langstrath Beck.



On the Langstrath side there's a fine swimming pool . . .	. . . but not today without a wet suit !

A brief stop to enjoy the location and to perhaps shed a waterproof.

Dylan looks out on the river as it emerges from the main valley.

	- - - o o o - - - Slippery rocks today after a dry summer. The mist on the high fells swirling about the summit of Eagle Crag across the way. Our return path will be on the other side of the river but first we'll continue along Langstrath for a while - - - o o o - - -

It's mushroom and toadstool season

with these colourful small Boletus examples growing well through the ground cover of sticks and pine needles.



A large white one about eight inches across.	Two orange ones protected by the roots of the tree.

What was I saying about wet suits . . .

There was a group ghyll scrambling down the river bed.

Talking to the two ladies on the bank they were a family group not a commercially organised outing.

They were the mums . . . dad and the kids has entered the water at Black Moss Pot

and had walked, tumbled and swam all the way down the river . . . they looked tired but happy.

Black Moss Pot is all the way up there . . . level with the low crag on the left.

[ You can extend the walk quite nicely if you want by continuing on up the valley and walking back down the other side of the river.]

[ There's a crossing point further up at Tray Dub where the Stake Pass route climbs up and out of the valley.]

As we reached Johnny House, now an old ruin, the sun came out and pushed the temperature up a notch.

	- - - o o o - - - Another brief moment of calm as I persuade Finlay and Dylan to sit quietly for a photo. It didn't last long as Dylan is tuned into the sound of the shutter, so I only get one chance unless I go through the whole procedure again. - - - o o o - - -

Thanks lads . . . that's fine.

A treat for sitting still . . . I think Gill missed out on the group photo though.

Dylan and Ann

Is it the camera perspective or is Dylan really that big ?



We retrace our steps and cross the bridge over Langstrath Beck.	There's another nice pool here if the first one is busy.

Our intrepid explorers are nearing the end of their adventure.

They would cross over to the far bank here, then perhaps one last swim in the big pool and they would be done.



Common Spotted Orchids, fewer than usual this dry year.	Delicate Harebells



Close up on the detail of this lovely flower.	Gill identifies the thistle-like Common Knapweed.

Eagle Crag . . . clear of the cloud now as we head down the valley once more.

Plenty of fallen rock and river-washed stone to build walls and sheepfolds.

A fine example of walling . . . and not a flat piece of stone in sight.

	The wall held an unusual gate in that the top and bottom hinges were spikes not rings. The metal spikes fitted into recesses above and below the main post of the gate. No need to drill and fix horizontal hinge pins to hang the gate.

Back to another signpost . . . taking a left turn here will bring us back to the car.

Just time to pick a few blackberries growing next to the stream before we move on.

Now the August rains have re-started the growing season, the late summer fruits seem to have been able to take advantage

and there are a lot of large blackberries on the bushes this year.

- - - o o o - - -

Our invite to Grange included a delightful supper . . . so Dylan made himself at home.



Commandeering Finlay's bed . . .	. . . wake me up for supper please.

Thanks to Trevor and Gill for the chance to do this delightful walk which we haven't done for quite some time

and for an excellent evening at their home.

- - - o o o - - -

This week we had correspondence from John McCreton who had spotted Dylan on our web site.

His photo brings to three our personal photo collection of Dylan's eleven brothers and sisters.



Mac of Gunnerdale (John McCreton)	Sam of Gunnerdale (Caryl Bunter )	Our Dylan of Gunnerdale

Don't they all look alike !

Gunnerdale Dogs . . . is owned and run by Deborah Forster in County Durham.

We'll be seeing her shortly, in six days time in fact, when we plan to go over and see Dylan's new nephew for the first time ;o)

- - - o o o - - -


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