After the excitement of the recent end-of-winter snow the weather has turned milder and that for us usually means WET !

After a few local days dog walking in the vicinity of Loweswater, I take advantage of a clearing in the weather to head up the valley to Buttermere.

Even in Cumbria, walking the same local routes close to home can get repetitive, and they don't sell ice cream this end of our lake !

So with that in mind I leave Buttermere Village and head across the valley towards

the Sour Milk Gill water falls and the Dubbs Bridge crossing of the river.

There seems to be an event of some sort locally today.

Several temporary signs and this tent give clues as to the nature of a local running (or hiking) event.

They've got a dog like mine over there . . . hang on that is my dog . . . get back over here Dougal !

Below Dubbs Bridge it overtops the bank and floods across the local fields.

We're heading round the lake on the popular, all-terrain footpath, first on the southern side,

making it an anti-clockwise circumnavigation if that helps.

The Hassness How Beck plunges down the fellside from the slopes of Robinson Fell.

There is a public footpath up the grassy slope to the right but I've never tried it.

Back on this side of the lake the weather is kind

and I capture a reasonable picture of Fleetwith Pike, seen beyond Hassness Woods.

Comb Beck cascades out of Burtness Comb and passes the Stuart Elliot Seat,

placed in memory of a Mountain Rescue member who died whilst out on a training mission of all things.

A slight obstruction delays our onward walk but the belted galloways are a gentle breed.

The dogs however are not impressed and give her right of way !

A slight rain shower seems to be falling on Gatesgarthdale after having crossed over Fleetwith Pike.

However by the time we get to the river crossing at Peggy's Bridge the weather here is clear once again.

The rain seems to be limited to the higher fells at the head of the Warnscale Valley.

The Dubbs Beck waterfall is flowing well and naturally the river here, under Peggy's Bridge is full too.

Green Crag seen beyond the waterfall.

There's also plenty of water flowing down Black Beck to the right of it.

The craggy outline of Haystacks, as seen from Gatesgarth Farm.

I see they have a new cafe building at the farm this year, a nicely clad container

which will no doubt be serving snacks, teas and ice cream over Easter.

Back down the other side of the lake now, but first this involves a short section of road walking.

The culvert draining this fellside stream seems to be blocked and a large puddle completely fills the road.

Don't try crossing through when there's a car coming the other way !

Back to the lake . . . next to the Buttermere Pines.

The old Ash tree is holding on despite major damage to the main trunk.

The more normal view, the prospect first seen as you drive up the road from Buttermere Village.

A more somber rain shower seems to be heading up the valley towards us

and it drains the colour from the view.

High water in the lake means accessing the tunnel path below Hassness is a little more tricky than normal.

A short rock scramble and we're there . . . not even wet feet !

We're still dry as the rain hasn't arrived, but our footwear is now damp due the puddles inside the tunnel.

Still signs of the old boat landing, but there seems to be to see less each year.

A choice of routes . . . either the dogs and I continue by the water side to complete the strict lake-shore round walk,

or we continue on this upper path, straight for an ice cream at Sykes Farm Cafe !

The ice cream won and we say goodbye to the lake.

Just a field crossing or two and we're nearly there.

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Hi Roger,    What memories those pictures brought back that you took on the 25th, at Easter of 1959 our scout troop held a camp just to the right of the picture that you took from Peggy's bridge, we had very high winds and rain for 3 days leaving our camp under more than 6 inches of water as the river overflowed, we had the tents on the higher pieces of ground but eventually they all blew away and we finished up in the upper level of that barn for a night until our parents arrived to rescue us.  We made dixies of thick Lincoln pea soup ( not very thick ) and that is why the farmer had green pigs for a while. Peter Mingay.   Port Dalhouise, Canada.

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