Today's Mob . . . .Loes, Joan (with Max), Judy, Peter (the boss), Cathy and Katrina (with Woody).

Dougal seems to be free spirit.

The walk started under the gaze of the Loweswater Pheasant . . . well at least his beak !

A farm river crossing of White Oak Beck . . . with Rannerdale Knotts in the background.

Road biker shout "car" to each other when a car passed . . . today it's the walkers shouting "Bikes" as a group of mountain bikers ride by.

Looking back through High Nook Farm.

Looking forward to possibly the steepest part of the climb . . . told you it was a "B" walk.

The stream is the High Nook Beck, travelling down from Blake Fell to join with the Whiteoak Beck and Dubs Beck, the outflow from Loweswater.

Looking back, therefore, we get a wide panorama of the Loweswater and Lorton Valleys.

The steady pull up from the farm brings us within striking distance from the hidden feature of High Nook Tarn.

We had diverted from the main path and now it was time to return to the track . . . Loes who, to be fair, took a shortcut is over there ahead of us.

She was worried about her back slowing her down, but she was ahead most the way !"

Okay she and Judy were bringing up the rear ten minutes later, as we climbed above Holme Woods.

They were not that far behind as can be seen from Peter's photo of the group.

Through the gate at the highest point and downhill all the way now (apart from small undulations).

John Macfarlane, who occasionally walks with the group, had apparently set us a challenge in his absence . . .

He asked the group to try counting the number gateways we passed through on today's walk.

A clue . . . there's none in this photo as we walk down towards Holme Beck . . . though there is a farmer's quad bike.

We had stopped for a quick coffle and cakes (mountaineer's flapjacks) a short while back

so the fact that The Chair was 'taken' was not a great disappointment.

This family would have to enjoy the view over Loweswater and across to Whiteside / Grasmoor in our place.

Though we were in the shadow of a passing cloud, it only emphasised the bright sunlight

that was shining down on Hudson Place and the Grange Hotel at Waterend.

Another brief summit as we climbed to the gate under Burnbank Fell.

Talking of gates, I make that about nine so far.

Ahead was the track down to the road at Fangs Brow, but the eye was distracted by the Scottish hills in the far distance.

The other visual attraction were the belted Galloway cows of Hudson Place Farm.

The colour difference between the brown and the black is a genetic throwback, but which came first is unknown

and the cows can give birth to either without explanation.

Still, there's nothing quite as fluffy as a Galloway youngster . . . he looked even more adorable when he was sitting down next to his mum.

Our route turns and we start our return leg, back towards Holme Wood and Maggie's Bridge. Here we pass Iredale Place farm.

Sadly it hasn't been a working farm for many of the years, due to improved mechanisation and the combination of farms.

It's available as a Holiday Let I believe . . . fabulous views included.

Cathy pauses at a gate for a photo.

A gate . . . have I included that one . . . passing Iredale Place the total was up to 14.

Another gate . . . are we getting paranoid . . . the total would reach 22 as we pass Hudson Place.

The route takes us down to the shores of Loweswater and into Holme Wood.

Take care this October . . . you may find boggles and goblins in the wood.

A late start for the walk has confused the senses and though we don't need to stop, the bench looks like a nice place for lunch.

Two problems . . . the bench is already taken and Loes and I didn't bring any lunch anyway.

Others have however, so it was about half past one that we stopped by the bothy and we finished our flask of coffee.

Loweswater looking great in the sunshine.

All the climbing had been done and it was a level walk back across the meadows to the car at Maggie's Bridge.

Loes and I had driven the short distance to the car park from home in case she needed to end the walk early and get home.

As it happens she completed the six miles without too much problem and I had to run to catch up with the group !

I'd obviously spent too much time stopping to re-count the gates we'd passed through.

Who ever took on the challenge !