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First day in the Lakes, and we are all a little unsure of what we are going to be capable of this week - so a nice gentle one to start us off.
Parking at Winter Crag FarmWe drove round to Howtown (we are staying near Pooley Bridge so it's not such a trek as it usually might be) and parked on the open ground near Winter Crag Farm. After a short false-start down the bridlepath to Sandwick, and falling in a hole in the path (nothing hurt except my dignity, fortunately) we set of up the path to the Winter Crag ridge.
View over Ullswater from Winter Crag RidgeWhen we reached the ridge there was a seat and a nice viewpoint over Ullswater.
Heading up Winter Crag RidgeThe path up Winter Crag was enjoyable - gentle gradients and nice views.
Precarious tree
Hallin Fell from Winter CragEvery time we turned round to look where we had come from, we got views of Hallin Fell to the north.
Hallin Fell and Ullswater
Place FellTo the west, looking across Boredale, was Place Fell.
Tiny TarnThe first cairn you reach near the summit is near an interesting-looking shelter (from a distance it looks like the entrance to a cave or burial mound, but at the back of the "doorway" is solid rock), and a tiny picturesque tarn.
Sherpherd's shelter
Roundabout for dogsThe dogs seemed to enjoy playing roundabouts in the tarn.
Figure on the skylineLooking towards the summit a figure was silhouetted at the cairn. Didn't come out so well in the photo though.
On top of Beda FellHaving hardly seen a soul up until this point, suddenly there were half a dozen or so at the summit, but they soon dispersed and we had the top to ourselves.
One Woman and her Dog
Top of the Mountain treatsThe dogs know the deal - when we get to a summit they get a biscuit.
Bedafell Knott (with Deer)We decided that rather than head back the way we had come we would carry on down the ridge and take the path from Patterdale down to Martindale. As we approached Bedafell Knott and the turning, a group of six Red deer crossed the path ahead of us (you can barely make them out in the photo - I only had a wide angle lens...). Great to watch them leaping down the hillside.
Sheep and Deer in the valleyWe cut across to the Patterdale-Martindale path, and found various groups of walkers standing watching events in the valley below. At first we thought it was the sheep herding that was catching everyone's interest (and it was fun to watch) but then we noticed there was also a very large - 50 or more - herd of deer moving down the valley too. Again, you can't really see them in the photos without a magnifying glass, but it was a lovely sight.
Sheep and Deer in the Valley
The road homeThe path reached the road at Dale Head farm - from there it was another mile up the road to where we had left the car.
Derelict wagonThis looked like an old railway wagon to me, but it's a long way from a railway if so!
Horses on the skylineThere were deer on the skyline too, but too small in the frame for photos. Maybe I'll take a longer lens next time...
The NabLooking back at The Nab - a likely target for sometime later this week, though will probably choose a day when the dogs are resting...
Autumn coloursHard to do them justice in a photo, but the colours are fabulous at the moment.
The Dog in the WindowThis dog was determined to bark at all passers-by - I don't THINK it was stuck...
Hallin FellA last view of Hallin fell as we approached the car.
Bannerdale and the NabAnd a last look back up the valley.
A nice gentle walk for our first day - off home to check that we all survived it ok and to plan something a little more energetic for tomorrow.
