Walking in Sunshine

I know I've mentioned previously that I haven't  spent as much time as I'd have liked walking in the Lakes this year. Frustratingly, reasonable weather conditions never seem to coincide with time off work and school. Walking on the fells in wind and rain is definitely not my idea of fun and, if I'm putting in some effort, I do at least like to be rewarded with a half decent view from the summit. So you can imagine how excited I was to discover we would have several days of beautiful sunshine and warm weather to fill over the Bank Holiday weekend.

                                

I've been building up a little folder of walks I'd like to complete, so I already knew of route which, hopefully, wouldn't prove too strenuous given the hot weather.

On Sunday morning, starting from the lovely little village of Braithwaite, we followed a clear pathway up and over Stile End, which was a straightforward but very steep climb. Then from Barrow Door we climbed Barrow, where we stopped a little way beyond the summit (and the flying ants!) for some chocolate. All I can say is thank goodness for ice packs, because without one we would have been drinking it. It was so hot! The heather is in flower at the moment and the fells looked absolutely stunning against the blue of the sky. There was barely a breeze, even on the summits and I was glad we had chosen an early start for our walk, as by the time we returned to the village it was beginning to get very hot indeed. Thankfully we were able to enjoy our picnic lunch sat beneath the shade of a large oak tree.

Following a more restful day on Monday, by the following morning we were raring to go again. This time we went up Great Mell fell, just north of Ullswater. Around a year and a half ago Lily and I climbed up Little Mell Fell, while we were camping in the area (blog post here), where you can see Great Mell Fell in the distance (last photograph).

This was such a lovely walk and the gentle climb belied the height we were to eventually reach at the summit, where we ate our lunch enjoying the glorious views over to Blencathra and beyond. The fell itself is scattered with pines and larches which adds to it's character, the lower slopes swathed in bracken. Slightly away from the more popular fells meant it was so very quiet  there and a far cry from the walk we had  experienced two days earlier.

The sunny weather meant we were really able to make the most of our weekend and has made me even more determined to make the most of any opportunity to get out on the fells again.

And look! One of our sunflowers has finally opened up. 🌻🌻🌻

J. X