Back home and chance to catch up, with some interesting, smaller walks along the way.

With the end of the metrological summer, the weather's turned and we are getting more low pressure weather which often brings winds and rain.

However it's all very changeable and on the good days the views are lovely (on the bad days there aren't any) !

We start with one of those good days where the sunny weather encouraged us over to Ennerdale, the next major valley round from Loweswater.

Loes and I park near the Bleach Green car park and walk down to the lake, on what turned into a very windy day.

There are new signposts this year as part of the Wainwright Coast to Coast footpath upgrade to the official 'long distance walk'.

The work also involved upgrading some of the old bridges,

The strong wind was blowing down the lake and crashing the waves onto the wall that supports the lakeside path . . . watch out for the splashes !

This rather bent panorama includes Herdus / Great Borne on the left, the Ennerdale Fells including Pillar at the top and Crag Fell with Anglers Crag to the right of centre.

Click here or on the photo for a larger version ( use the backspace on that page arrow to return here)

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A day or so later the weather had changed, but also the heavy gang had arrived !

In the field opposite the cottage, two diggers and a caterpillar tracked skip looked like they had work to do !

The boggy area on the other side of the field above the cottage is being given a re-wilding make-over.

After an initial leak, now sealed with clay, the pond is full of water once more.

Higher up in the field the diggers have been making other wildlife ponds amongst the reeds beds and bog.

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This week I've managed to have lift to Grange at the far end of Loweswater, in order to enjoy a one hour, linear walk back to the cottage.

Dougal and I started at The Grange Hotel, seen here through the trees.

The hotel has long hosted guests, from the days of the Quakers onward, and from today will also be stocking the Loweswatercam Calendar 2026 !

Buy your copies here if you're passing this way.

Those of a keen eye may spot another retriever . . . as I'm dog sitting Sophie and Chris's Bracken.

The view along the length of the lake, with six Wainwright summits in sight.

They are Grasmoor, Whiteless Pike, Robinson, Rannerdale Knotts and Mellbreak, the sixth being The Honister Crags of Fleetwith Pike, just peeping round the side of Mellbreak.

Big machinery at Hudson Place Farm too, as the owner is replacing the roof timbers of the old barn behind the house.

The fairies (or is it the Goblins) of Holme Wood have been out building Fairy Rings by the lake.

I suspect it may have been something to do with a recent wedding in the valley.

The beach at the far end of Holme Woods.

No boats any more as they've become "un-seaworthy" and there's no one to supervise the hire of them anyway.

Looking back at Holme Wood and Loweswater as I head across the meadow towards Maggie's Bridge.

Rather than take Dougal and Bracken on the road all the way back to the cottage, I diverted towards Foulsyke and then crossed the fields past the new wildlife ponds.

They are looking better already now the rain has washed some of the mud out of the vegetation.

Now to get home and organise that meeting I was talking about.