The Dalemain Garden area on Penrith station as Loes and I relax having arrived slightly early to meet the train.

I understand locals school children have also been involved in 'greening' this part of the platform to make a nice waiting area.

The platform behind is now redundant . . . it used to serve the now closed Penrith to Keswick, Cockermouth and Workington railway line.

After collecting Abi and Emilia from the train we returned via Cockermouth and viewed the Easter decorations in the main street.

We diverted through town a little last minute shopping was needed before reaching Loweswater.

- - - o o o - - -

We celebrate their arrival this first early evening with a short walk down to the lake.

Loes and the girls on the way down to Peel headland and Sandy Yat bay.

Okay . . . a close up of the girls

with the long distance views of the fells at the head of the valley behind them.

- - - o o o - - -

The following morning the day broke clear and sunny, so we packed our walking gear and some lunch and headed over to Ullswater.

Our first full view of the lake . . . sometimes you've just got to stop (traffic permitting)

and capture that first view of Ullswater from the Troutbeck Road.

National Trust parking at Aira Force car park.

There's plenty of people about today as it is a sunny day and the start of most folks school holidays.

We're going to climb Gowbarrow on a clockwise circular route from the waterfalls in Gowbarrow Park up to the top.

	- - - o o o - - -     After walking ahead, the girls backtracked slightly down to the edge of the bank to enjoy the first but more distant view of High Force, the top big waterfall of the valley.   Dougal encouraged them to dip their feet in the water but they sensibly declined as it is still early Spring and the water was cold.     - - - o o o - - -

A closer view of the falls reveals their natural beauty.

Loes crossed over the bridge above the falls . . . but that's not our route today.

[ Thinking about it now, she might have been asked to go and stand on the bridge specifically for the photo !]

Our route continued up the valley, eventually leaving the woods behind

which allowed us to get a wider view of Dockray and the surrounding fells.

A new-ish wooden signpost now graces the point at which we start our climb up the fell itself.

The round symbol on the signpost of a footpath is the marker for the long distance "Ullswater Way".

Leaving the fell gate behind and starting our climb, the long distant views are steadily improving.

Higher up, our first view of Blencathra since passing it in the car on the way over from Loweswater this morning.

It's a fairly direct ascent path here . . . that means a steep climb !	However the path does ease which means we are nearing the top.

Seen at a distance in the last picture and now briefly free of visitors, the trig point gives lovely views all round.

Here I'm looking over to the east, to Pooley Bridge, Penrith, the Pennines and Cross Fell.

Why not show you the whole view !

Click here or on the photo above for a 360 degree annotated panorama.

Summit trig is crowded once more

and a kind fellow-visitor took the camera, to allow me to stand in a group photo.

This photo taken from our lunch spot on the secondary top of Gowbarrow, with a view east towards the top end of the lake.

Time now to complete the circle by walking down the opposite side of the fell	. . . which brings us back around on a good path, back towards the lake.

The ruin of the old shooting lodge seems to be getting smaller and more overgrown each time we visit.

The old bridge is long gone, replaced by a stone embankment

that has now blended perfectly into the landscape.

Handed over my camera again as Loes requests a picture of me in the sunshine.

	- - - o o o - - -   Round and round we go, down and down we go' getting into a spin . . . about the lovely views today.   - - - o o o - - -

We cross through the gate, out onto the Yew Crags viewpoint.

Loes and I on the viewpoint,

with Ullswater stretching out into the distance behind us.

Below is Lyulph's Tower.

It's a fairly modern building with a castle-like frontage but is house-like to the rear.

The present Lyulph's Tower was built in the 1780s by Charles Howard, the 11th Duke of Norfolk, as a hunting lodge on top of the original Pele Tower.

The Scandinavian Ulph (name uncertain) is thought to be the origin of the name Ulph's Water (now Ullswater).

Loes heading steadily back down to Gowbarrow Park.

A tree-mendous shot . . . of two seasonal Herdwicks, almost camouflaged amongst the winter bracken.

Talking of trees, this is the huge spruce now we're back in the park . . .	. . . and full circle now, once we cross the bridge below.

We'll not head straight back to the car as there's something else on our mind . . .

It's refreshment time . . . cake ?	. . . or perhaps a scone and cream ?

Either way we didn't exactly go back home hungry, that's for certain.

- - - o o o - - -

In the evening, suitably refreshed after our walk, it was back in the car and we headed out for Keswick.

After a good old fashioned fish and chip supper in the Moot Hall square (I know how to entertain !)

we found ourselves down at the theatre, with a few minutes spare to enjoy a visit to the Boat Landings.

Afterwards, electronic tickets in hand (I know how to be modern too !) we were off to the Show.

That's been a full day I think we can agree.