Three "events" from late August / early September are grouped together here.

Loes and I enjoyed an extended dog walk up Hen Comb.  Perhaps we didn't mean to go to the top, but it was good to reach it.

Ian was over for a similar low level walk that ended up longer than expected and then the biggest surprise of all . . . read on.

The dogs need a walk each day so Loes and I chose to head towards Hen Comb today.

The route goes up past the Kirkstile Pub and out into Mosedale.

At the end of the wall here we dropped down to "Harry's Pool" and then walked up to the skyline . . . we'll see how far we get.

The heather is blooming nicely this year, though it is not as prolific on this fell as it is on its neighbours

such as Mellbreak to the left or Starling Dodd in the distance.

The rise towards Dodd completed and time to look back, as Loweswater comes into view.

The tops opposite are Darling Fell and Low fell, but interestingly we could see the old lead mine workings on Black Crag to the left.

Later now and much higher, as the ground under foot turned out to be easy walking today.

Loweswater is still in picture but now also coming in view are the summit of Mellbreak and Grasmoor, with Skiddaw just showing through the gap.

Two-sticks Cappellen tackling the north face of Hen Comb.

Dougal claims the summit rocks as I step back to take in the big picture . . . Dale Head and Buttermere round to Great Borne and the sea.

Okay . . . if you insist . . . the full 360 panorama.

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

- - - o o o - - -

During the week I also received a visit from Ian (Smith) who was up in Cumbria to do some work.

On his day off he headed my direction and we did another short (!) 4 mile dog walk, including a visit to the Loweswater's Matterhorn Rock.

- - - o o o - - -

This day was an unusual day.  There's me quietly going about my business when a knock on the door caught my attention.

A couple wanted to know who owned the field next to the cottage and could they go in and sit to do some painting.

At the end of the afternoon they returned to thank me for my assistance and to show me the results of their work.

"The Lakes up above Loweswater, Tues 5th Sept   The Old Post Office . . . after Alfred Heaton Cooper"

The gentleman's version of the same view . . . very interesting to compare the slightly different watercolour styles.

- - - o o o - - -     In the garden, over a cup of tea, They commented how nice the view from here was.   David and Veronica were up from Knutsford on holiday and they were able to return next day, so a further invitation was given. A second fine day gave them chance to paint another Loweswater view.   They took the opportunity to fill another couple of pages of their artist's notebooks with the following sketches.   They admitted that they weren't completed but to me they were amazing.   - - - o o o - - -

Gillerthwaite - The Old Post Office as seen from Oak Cottage.

Again, a second interpretation of the same view, as I said, neither were completed, but it didn't detract from the skill shown in the work.