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The weather today was superb, the sky blue, the winds light and the colours vibrant.

Loes and I arranged to meet at Bowness Knott and together started out on the classic walk around the lake.

The signboard said 8 miles, the Gps showed approximately 8.5 but by the end it felt more like 10 miles for us to complete the circuit.

Mellbreak was looking good, with bright early morning sun illuminating the eastern slopes,

instead of the more usual sunset colours I see on the western side.

Bright sun by the time I head out in the car.

The Loweswater Pheasant, Holme wood planted in the shape of a bird, is standing out from the fellside.

In a month's time the autumn colours will change the colour of his plumage giving it an even more dramatic effect.

Looking into the sun as I round Cauder Brow and look down on Ennerdale Water.

In the car park my walking partner ready and waiting.

All I needed to do was to change my footwear, pick up a small day sack, position the dogs and the picture's taken.

Together we head out on the forest track, on a clockwise walk around the lake.

Looking over to Angler's Crag and the "craggy" side of Crag Fell.

Perhaps that's where it got its name from ?

	- - - o o o - - - The roadway drops down to the side of the lake and someone is already in for a swim, or at least a paddle in the water. As we near the tree covered promontory the angle of the sun becomes a problem but mad, experimental dog photographers take a chance on an unusual visual effect and press the shutter anyway ! - - - o o o - - -

Looking back at Angler's Crag where the sun shines on the distant subject, not into the lens.

The lake is full, the breeze non-existant and there are lovely reflections on this open-sided pool next to the road.

Rather than stick to the easy route, we divert left at the signpost

and follow the Smithy Beck Trail into the adjacent woodland.

I remember seeing a hedgehog on this path many years ago but there's only Loes today.

The waterfall has a reasonable amount of water flowing over it today.



We cross by the Smithy Beck footbridge . . .	. . . alongside which was a perfectly formed Fly Agaric toadstool.

Smithy Beck was named after the Iron Burnary or smelter that once graced its banks.

We return to the lakeside track and the area where the smelter used to be.



I was intrigued by a sign by the beck encourages photos . . .	. . . so I dutifully respond and email them the image once home.

The University of Newcastle is monitoring river levels and if passing visitors kindly forward an current image to them

they should be able to track water levels without needing to make a quite so many site visits.

The head of the lake now but we can't cross yet so continue on up the track.

Ahead is the Pillar massif with one of the bumps on its side being "The Pillar" itself.

Just showing above the slopes of Ennerdale's Lingmell is the pointed summit of Steeple.

We cross Irish Bridge.

It seems to have aquired some extra central ironwork, for some reason that I can't work out.

The head of the lake is about of a third of a mile away

as we cross the valley and take the gate onto the next section of our walk.

Sitting, relaxing by the lake was a lady I had met before . . . but she recognised me first because of the dogs.

Marion a regular viewer of Loweswatercam, has retired from her "Barking Mad" dog sitting franchise

and is enjoying relaxing days out with her own dog for a change.

No wonder she stopped here, the view was lovely.

Where are we . . . this side, that side . . . no just "The Side".

" We're about half way round so will this be a good spot for lunch ? "

The rocks by the tree will make good seats . . .

. . . and the lunchtime view looking up the valley is also rather good.

The path down this side of the lake has a number of rocky sections, both here and in the woodland.

They need a little extra care, especially if they are damp, so as to avoid mishaps.

Another superb fly agaric toadstool . . . and looking around . . . there were more.



Young fairy toadstools.	They grow up and flatten out.



This one was probably protected by the stone.	Soon they will decay and vanish till this time next year.

A rather ancient Hawthorn tree by the lakeside as we get nearer to Angler's Crag.

This Rowan is in the full flush of youth, producing a profuse number of berries before the winter sets in.

Bowness Knott, Herdus, Great Bourne and Berries.

The path offers two options here. Either you can branch off left and climb up and over Angler's, or you can follow the lakeside path.

Taking the lower option still involves a slight height gain as it picks its way around the lower slopes of the crag.

Loes stops to enjoy the views.

Great Borne in the sunshine, Bowness temporarily in the shade of a passing cloud.

The view back up the lake from Starling Dodd all the way to Brandreth.

This side we look along the lower slopes of Boat How, The Side and on towards Pillar Fell.



Sunshine highlights the tree and the clear water below.	Loes strides ahead towards the highest point of the path.

Dougal waits to see why I'm so far behind ? . . . I've been taking loads of photos !

Looking across to Whins Farm and Knock Murton.

The birds on the lake are taking advantage of a glacial moraine island that just breaks the water's surface in the middle of the lake.

These two guys are taking advantage of their craft to explore the lake from close up.

They head up the lake, passing the rocky outcrop below Bowness Knott.

What goes up must come down and soon we regain the lakeshore on our way to the foot of the lake.

Ahead is the weir and the track to Bleach Green

but there's a shaded section of path first as the steep slopes of Crag Fell hide the sun from our route.

It will be sunshine all the way now that we've reached the weir.

The lake level is full after early October rains.

I love the effect of looking directly across the surface of the lake as it cascades over the weir.

The bridge over the infant River Ehen leads us on to the final section of the walk.

Looking up Ennerdale Valley from the Bleach Green end of the lake.

How Hall Farm under The How.

The old road to the Anglers Hotel on the lake shore passes the front of the farm buildings.

We cross the delightfully names Rothery Sike stream.

The site of the old hotel has been cleared and only a memorial seat to the rear of the site remains to tell the tale.

It seems that the site has also been further cleared of the old concrete jetty footings since my visit here in 2019.

Sadly new visitors to shore site will have even less clue as to where the old hotel once stood.



Onward alongside the lake . . .	. . . a slight diversion through the trees . . .	and back on the lakeshore path for the last section.

Mireside Farm close by the shore.

Nearly back now as we approach Bowness Knott.

A noisy group of Graylag Geese relax in the field alongside the path.

We leave the lake and take the path up the lane past Bowness Cottage.

The path has matured nicely after re-surfacing in recent years.

It brings us out at the entrance to the car park of course . . . almost as if we planned it !

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Every good walk deserves a nice refreshment stop afterwards.

Sometimes there's a convenient hostelry, but today we'll head over to "The Gather", the community cafe in Ennerdale Bridge.



. . . where we can delight in a pot of tea	. . . and perhaps one of their cleverly advertised cakes.

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- - - o o o - - -

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