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On one of my daily walks last week I ventured down to Lanthwaite Woods to avoid the worst of the weather.

On the way back up the woodland track to the car park I found the dogs playing with a new friend.

A chance meeting with 'Dave the retriever' on a wet walk in the woods last week resulted in this misty photo of the three dogs together.

"Dave" is two year old, the same age as Dougal . . . here's to our next chance meeting . . . they certainly enjoyed this one.

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Next day the weather changed and the sun came out, so I thought the two dogs and I would go and climb the Matterhorn.

No need for ice axe and crampons as, like Grey Friars Fell in the southern Lakes, Low Fell also boasts a rock pinnacle for explorers to climb upon.

Off towards Foulsyke, the photo of the footpath sign reflecting the weather which has changed the grey skies to blue

and the season which has changed the summer flowers on the hawthorn to bright autumnal berries.

Grasmoor through the field gate.

. . . and over the wall to its neighbours, Whiteside and Dodd.

A fine oak tree graces the next field as Scale Hill comes into view.

Ahead is Low Fell with Foulsyke standing next to the top road.

The best views are not always ahead . . . remember to look behind you occasionally !

The dogs wait at the gate, as the stile alongside has become overgrown with vegetation through lack of use.

The path will take us across to Whinny Ridding Woods.

The two black ponies that we used to meet up by the pine tree seem to be living in this lower paddock now.

The patch of ground next to the woods has developed into a natural flower meadow

with dandelions and small cow parsley like flowers.

Above the fell wall now and looking across to the High Nook Valley.

Floutern Cop hides in the shadows to the left . . . and your imagination might see the Loweswater Pheasant flying in across the face of Carling Knott.

Also using that wonderful imagination you can see the mighty Matterhorn Rock on the fellside above us.

It also looks a little like the "howitzer rock" on the summit on Helm Crag near Grasmere, from this direction at least.

I traverse under the southern end of Low Fell heading along the Darling Fell path

and as the dogs and I climb up we get closer to the scree that flanks some of the steeper parts of the fell.

First up, even without prompting . . . Dylan.

He sits long enough for me to walk round to include the view looking up the Buttermere Valley.

With a little encouragement Dougal finds space on the rock, but Dylan wasn't budging an inch . . . sibling rivalry at work !

Had I taken this photo a few weeks earlier it would have made the 2021 Loweswatercam Calendar

Have I told you it is already printed and now on sale from all good web sites . . . especially this one.

Looking northwest to that un-named cairn on the side of Darling Fell that I visited a few weeks ago.

Look beyond and you can just make out the Scottish coast across the Solway Firth.

The woodland path curves round and exits the wood just across the fields from the houses at Foulsyke and Looking Stead.

Rounding the circle at the gate which is where I came in.

Dougal is pleased to see old friends again and is remarkably un-phased by the horse.

Actually by the two horses . . . the other was lurking in the shadows.

With no sheep in this field today, the gate is open and there's no other barrier to a nice cup of tea.

A lovely day and a slightly longer walk enjoyed as a result.

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