The first walk over Easter was with my daughter Cathy and her partner Mark, plus two of her long term ex-Med-School friends and their partners.

On Easter Monday we met up in Pooley Bridge with Jo and Miles from Great Salkeld near Penrith and Jude and Rob from near Clitheroe in Lancashire.

The seven of us walked a circular route, up to the old stone circle, down to the lake and back in time for lunch in the Crown Inn.

The assembled group (photo taken by Mark).

Miles, Jo, Rob, Jude, myself and Cathy . . . front row Dougal and Dylan.

We met up at the pop-up car parking behind the Sun Inn (I think they do it regularly during the season).

After exchanging conversations with friends we've not seen for a while we set off up the hill from Pooley Bridge, in the direction of Askham Moor.

On the top we met the Roman road known as "High Street", where we found "The Cockpit" stone circle.

The name might have come from middle ages cock fighting (?) but the site is a fairly obvious bronze age stone circle.

A second group photo of the day by myself this time, including Mark second from the right.

Just to confuse you , all the others have changed places !

A surprisingly new viewpoint stone, presumably dating from the creation of the Ullswater Way long distance path.

We've walked a short distance along the Roman road and then branched right and started our descent towards the lake.

Jo pointing out the fells and how the lake twists and turns, away into the distance.

I thought 'Wuthering Heights' and 'an abandoned old stately home'

but this is Auterstone, close to the woods we just passed which have the same name and it is still being used for accommodation.

Once we reached the lakeside road near Sharrow Bay, we headed back to Pooley Bridge, but did stop for a quick coffee at the Waterside campsite,

where the cafe umbrellas very conveniently sheltered us from a five minute rain shower.

[ The weather wasn't too brilliant and I didn't have my camera today so I kept the walk pictures to a minimum.]

Full marks also to the Crown Inn in Pooley Bridge for a fine lunch . . . won't need much tea tonight !

- - - o o o - - -

Walk two . . . " Out to Lunch in Buttermere " Date & start time:      Wednesday 12th April 2023.  10.30 am start. Location of Start :     By the red phone box, Loweswater, Cumbria, Uk. ( NY 143 211) Places visited :          Low Ling Crag, Sour Milk Gill, Buttermere, Cinderdale and back. Walk details :              9 miles, an undulating 750 ft of ascent, 4 hours 30 mins including lunch. Highest point :           Lunch at Sykes Cafe - of course Walked with :              Just Cathy and Mark, Loes and myself this time, plus Dylan and Dougal. Weather :                     Still inclement with the odd wintery shower in the valley, snow on the fells.

© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Licence number PU 100034184.

On the Wednesday we decided to go out to lunch at Buttermere, doing it the harder way . . . by walking there and back.

In so doing we circumnavigate Crummock Water.  It was a nine mile walk in rather poorer weather than my walk to Ling Crag last week.

Fortunately we were sheltering inside when 'the big wintery shower of the day' actually passed overhead.

A smaller walking group for Cathy's second walk . . . just herself, Mark, myself and Loes.

The forecast is poor but the local prospects look reasonable as we set off across the fields.

The cool winds quickly meant an added layer and zipped up waterproofs.

Last night's rain had fallen as snow on the tops, bringing winter back to the fells once again.

This is the High Stile Ridge in snow, with more on Green Gable in the distance, plus cloud on its more famous Great Gable next to  it.

Snowy Robinson Fell over Rannerdale Valley.

Our first target was Low Ling Crag, jutting out into a rather grey looking lake.

Still there's no rush and we have time to walk out to the end of the crag for a photo.

Onwards towards Buttermere where we reach Scale Beck.

The water from Scale Force has now split on reaching more level ground and has formed into several delta-like streams.

From the first bridge we look up towards the wooded cleft in the valley side that hides the tall Scale Force waterfall.

The fell beyond is not in fact Great Bourne, but Gale Fell, looking tall from this angle.

Normally it blends into the lower slopes of Starling Dodd and doesn't stand out when seen from Mellbreak or Mosedale.

A second bridge takes us over the larger of the Scale Beck streams.

Scale Island, with different vegetation due to the lack of grazing.

Holme Islands at the head of Crummock Water.

If the plans go ahead to drop the level of the lake by five feet then they'll be back on dry land once again.

Our rather damp path continues on towards Buttermere

while a heavy shower crosses the top of the valley.  Better up there than down here !

A more general period of rain seems to be our destiny, well you must admit that it was forecasted.

Undaunted, we pass Dubbs Bridge and head on up this side of the river so that Cathy and Mark can see the Sour Milk Gill cascade.

After numerous damp sections where fell water was flowing over the path, the track ahead rises to the bridge next to the falls.

We crossed the bridge at the foot of Buttermere and walked across on the path to the village.

That rain storm at the head of the valley has now obliterated the fells at that end of the lake.

By the look of the camera lens, the moisture in the air is starting to tell on the photographic quality, as we reach Syke Farm Cafe.

The lights are on and the cafe is open so we can have lunch, a good job as we didn't bring any with us.

[ Still there were three alternatives in the village should this have been closed.]

But none of the others have got an Italian, rotating, ice cream dispenser like this one.

The lunch menu is nice too, so it's a Buttermere pie for starters and Buttermere ice cream for dessert.

Timing was opportune, as while we were in there the skies opened and the rain fell.

By the time re-emerged all was well with the world, the rain had stopped and we could start on our walk home.

For a change we took the 'old road' through the woods, near Wood House.

"That's different . . . most folk stick to the main road "

The short section of track brings us back to the lake, where the Wood House Islands are just off shore.

Cathy and Mark opted for another section of old road and took the rather bemused dogs with them.

That top road is now a path and hasn't seen traffic since the days of horse and cart.

Loes and I declined the slight climb and  'took the low road', passing this fallen giant close to Hause Point.

The rain that fell on Buttermere had fallen as sleet or snow on Gale Fell.

Earlier, when we passed along the path on that side, it was clear of its wintery mantle.

We walked around the headland on the road and could see Cathy, Mark and the dogs, who were almost down by the time we arrived.

More rain, or at least moisture in the camera bag, which clouds the lens once again.

Here we are walking on the lakeside path back from Cinderdale.

With the recent poor weather the streams are full and the beck crossing today is a little less dry than normal.

Into Lanthwaite Woods, having passed the Boathouse.

Here's the weir that will be the centre of discussions in forthcoming months, now the drinking water extraction has ceased.

This was going to be a final photo as we reach the car park at Lanthwaite Woods . . .

However as we walked the road to home we passed a team of surveyors in the fields,

mapping out the area for United Utilities, prior to possible starting of work on removal of the weir.

They are checking out road widths and field slopes prior to finalising plans and putting in for Planning Permission to change the world.