Arrived at the car park at the top of the Howtown zig-zags at 8.20am and set off past the church to join the path for Mellguards and so up the first top of the day, Bonscale Pike. Bit of a grind up there, but once on top the walking is much easier for many miles along the spine of the High Street range.
The weather was a bit cloudy / hazy / misty but very mild for the time of year and there wasn't a breath of wind.
The highlight of the day was finding a perfect little perch on Kidsty Pike, overlooking Riggindale, for an extended lunch stop. We had a grandstand view of a great cloud-sea spilling over Harter Fell and Nan Bield from the south. Quite mesmerising.
Descending from Rest Dodd we passed a couple coming up. They'd come from The Nab and warned us about the peat hags, rather confirming the visual indications from above. They weren't too bad as it turned out, but it's a psychological advantage to be forewarned.
From the top of The Nab we went straight down the north ridge, which was very steep! The red deer were bellowing but we couldn't see them.
Down at the head of the valley is a red building that serves as a shooting lodge. Apparently it was built in 1910 for Kaiser Willhelm II who had a predilection for shooting deer. Obviously they didn't suspect what he'd be up to four years later (or at least we assume they didn't)!

Got back to the car at 3.15pm. A very enjoyable walk and a good way to tick off ten Wainwrights.
