Whinlatter Top 1696ft.

Lyn and her group all look pleased to have made it to Whinlatter Top, the last of the summits on the Aiken Beck round. There's Kim and Jill on the left, Charlie from Stirling next to Lyn and Tracy and Clive, who were taking a short break from the farm in Derbyshire, on his left. Bella's ready for off and having nothing to do with photo opportunities at all. From here it was downhill all the way to the Whinlatter Forest Centre for tea and cakes and the minibus back to Keswick.

Lord's Seat 1811ft ; Whinlatter Forest Park

Lords Seat at 1811ft or 552m is the highest of the fells that form a rough horseshoe of tops round Aiken Beck, which rises on the southern slopes of the fell. It's breezy on top but the sun is breaking through at last on Ling Fell behind us. Bassenthwaite Lake can be seen far below.

Summit of Graystones 1476ft, NW Fells

It was cool and breezy on the top where we stopped for a breather after the steep ascent. We decided to make for the col between Graystones and Broom Fell before we took a break for elevenses. In the background the tops of the Skiddaw massif are still shrouded in cloud.

A Round of Aiken Beck, Whinlatter

Friday 17 October was a good day for walking on the NW Fells, no rain, little wind, cool and mainly clear conditions with fine views in all directions. Here Lyn and Bella are leading the way up the steep flank of Graystones from our starting point at Scawgill Bridge on the Aiken Beck, seen far below.

Thanks to Tess and Ewen

Guess what dropped through the letter box this week? Yep some photos from last years walk taken by Tess of our dear old Jockey. So this posting is for Tess and Ewen to say thanks for the memories and as you particularly liked the one of Jock on his own, well here he is just for you.

Some of you will know that Jock passed away this February at the age of 14 with many many fells bagged and even more Munros. He was a lively, lovely lad and I just wanted to share this photo with you. You may not realise but when he was younger, no butty was safe... I was once on a remote Munro with only one ham roll for sustenance (rations were short that day) and Pete and I were just starting lunch when I glanced aside at something at the same time inadvertently placing my butty on the lunch box lid (uneaten). Well in the next instant it was in Jock's voracious jaws and the tug of war contest which ensued resulted in a 50:50 split.... I was not pleased!

So you see this next photo shows how Jock had mellowed or perhaps Pete (two hand grip) was not in a mood for sharing.

I wonder who the other fellow is? Does anyone know? It's not Tess that's for sure.

A Classic with weather to match

With the Langdale Pikes "in the bag" we stopped for afternoon tea in the sunshine on the top of High Raise before the descent to Greenup Gill, Stonethwaite, and the last bus back down Borrowdale to Keswick.
Though we can't do much about the weather in the Lakes, Keswick Rambles can guarantee a good walk and they don't come much better than the July Langdale Pikes ramble. The weather conditions, the enjoyable company and the exhilerating high level route all made it a day to remember. Definitely a "must" for the KR programme next year, look out for it.

Hamish and Angus set the pace

Pike o'Stickle forms the background as Hamish and Angus, two memorably well behaved Tibetan Terriers, set the homeward pace from Harrison Stickle towards Thunacar Knott and High Raise, Bella looks keen too.

Langdale Pikes Walk

The Langdale Pikes walk is one of the longest that we undertake, all of fifteen miles, with a good many ups and downs along the way. The conditions for the first outing on the 1 July were ideal, warm and sunny all day, and we thought at the time that the summer was here to stay, how wrong we were. We started from Stonethwaite and walked up Langstrath, where this picture was taken, towards Stake Pass, the key to the Langdale Pikes from Borrowdale.

Occasional 'ramblings' about our walks

I thought that our wanderings over the Lakeland Fells could be shared with each other, so the idea of this blog was formed. Many of you have not met each other and yet so far this year I can honestly say that I bet you would all have got on well with each other and nattered away all day if you had all come together! Not that I could have taken so many of you up the fells at once. But perhaps in the comfort of your homes, after the wind, rain and sometimes snow this year, you can sit back, relax and reflect on the walks we did together. Perhaps you will be planning ahead to the walks we offer next year and maybe you will find some new inspiration.
So although there are not many weeks left until we hang up our boots for the season, I hope to post a few entries here, mostly in retrospect at the summer which came and went within the blinking of an eye....At least that's how it seems now but at the time, well didn't we do well all the hills we climbed and the sheep we saw, and the cairns we sat at.