Horrendously disorganised and massively sleep deprived I set off on Friday morning and had an easy drive South. Despite the usual pang at crossing the border (although I’m never quite sure where it is when going South, no “Welcome to England” sign
) as I drove through the Lakes it was a glorious morning and I was looking forward to revisiting some old friends 
Ullswater
I arrived at Glenridding and shouldered my huge pack. Trying not to think about the car parking charge on my return, I crossed the bridge and set off up the road. I made my way through the maze of paths, past the campsite and along the Glenridding Beck (not burns down here
) before crossing a bridge and climbing up towards the path up the glen. 
This path led me onto what could only be described as a motorway…
This led me past the Youth Hostel and past the mine workings. I crossed the bridge over some impressive water features
The good path then led up the glen alongside the Beck
I met a few folk along here; some stopped for a blether and all thought I was crazy
After a while the path started climbing more steeply upwards and my huge pack was slowing me down. As I came round the cliffs the path towards Catsyecam appeared. I met a couple here who had come down Swirral Edge, the unknown quantity of the day and said that I would be fine. Although I’d been up Striding Edge as a child, Swirral had been outlawed 
Red Tarn with Helvellyn and Striding Edge behind
As I neared the top of Catstyecam I bumped into a couple of guys and chatted to them on the way up. They turned out to be part of a larger group of people from the Over the Hill Walking Group based in Leicestershire. They were excellent company and as it turned out were heading the same direction as I was.
Looking down from the top of Catstyecam
Red Tarn and Striding Edge
Swirral Edge leading to Helvellyn
Looking over St Sunday Crag towards High Street and High Raise
Skiddaw and Blencathra
We left the summit of Catstyecam and headed along the ridge. Red Tarn was sparkling in the sunshine and it was shaping out to be an amazing day
Soon enough we reached Swirral Edge. Being me, obviously taking the “pussy path” wasn’t an option and I headed up the crest.
An easier section
I really noticed the extra weight when scrambling
But there wasn’t anything difficult or even particularly exposed. Halfway along the weather had a Tourettes moment and the rain arrived. Waterproofs on I continued. Looking back downwards
From here it was a short stroll to the summit of Helvellyn. There were so many people here it was like Sauchiehall Street on a Saturday. I know Helvellyn is a popular hill but you wouldn’t see this many people even on Ben Nevis
Unable to get any peace and quiet, we stopped for a sandwich and a few photos. Looking down towards Ullswater
Fairfield and Cofa Pike
We left the large flat summit of Helvellyn and followed the obvious path along to Nethermost Pike, over High Crags and lastly to Dollwagon Pike. The rain was on and off along here and the visibility wasn’t great.
Looking back towards Helvellyn with Striding Edge
The Langdale Pikes and Coniston Old Man
An impressive panorama
The distinctive shape of Fairfield and Cofa Pike
The descent down to Grisedale Tarn was steep and had those rocky steps that are designed for people with longer legs than me. But it was probably better than the eroded alternative
Seat Sandal
Reaching the tarn, some people decided they’d had enough (they promised it wasn’t the weird Scottish lassie scaring them aff
) and headed down the glen. The rest of the group continued around the tarn to head up Seat Sandal. Grisedale Tarn with Seat Sandal behind
Looking down Grisedale
The climb up Seat Sandal was steep and initially quite eroded making it interesting for the numpty who was carrying their hoose…
As we reached the top there was another shower. This was where I would part company with my new friends as it was to be my home for the night. They all headed off, debating whether they would take in St Sunday Crag on their way home and I waited out the rain before finding somewhere to pitch my tent.
The weather improved soon enough….
And a few metres off the summit I found a nice flat spot which seemed to be sheltered enough for the night.
Domestic duties sorted, I decided to have a wander around with the camera. Looking down the ridge of Seat Sandal that led down to Grasmere I got an excellent view out to the Scafell range
The Helvellyn range
Grasmere itself. I did consider running down to see if the Grasmere Gingerbread Shop was still open. But figured I’d be too late. And I was lazy
Windermere
Pointy Bowfell and the Scafell Hills
Great Gable and Pillar
Great Gable
Pillar
The Buttermere Fells and Grisedale Pike
Skiddaw
Wetherlam and Wet Side Edge
Great Gable and Pillar with Easedale Tarn in the foreground
Summit pose
Fairfield and St Sunday Crag
St Sunday Crag
Grasmere and Coniston Water
Grasmere, Coniston Water and Wetherlam
Looking down the Glen, ominous clouds on the way
Grisedale Pike and friends
Not a bad camp spot
The sun is still out
A wee sit down, cup of tea and a book with a view
The light started to go, setting the scene for an excellent sunset…
Until it started raining….initially only gently with a rainbow…
And then it got heavier and heavier. I got my waterproofs on and tried to shelter the camera from the torrential rain….
I failed…but I think the rain droplets on the camera are kind of atmospheric
Eventually I gave up and crawled back into my tent. Warm and dry again and safe from the elements was where I stayed for the rest of the evening as the rain relentlessly fell from the sky to the point where I was wondering how much of a lake my tent would survive sitting in
At last the rain stopped….and was replaced by wind…. I didn’t get a lot of sleep but safe to say that tent will survive pretty much anything The next morning I wasn’t in much of a rush as I wasn’t due to meet the parents in Langdale until after 4. I had a leisurely breakfast, read some more of my book and packed up my things.
Morning mist
The Crinkle Crags
Skiddaw and Thirlmere
Grasmere
I walked back over the summit of Seat Sandal and met a group of people already there
No chance of having my hill to myself today either I made my way carefully down the steep path before setting off up Fairfield. This had looked pretty steep but it was a good path and my legs felt rested even if the rest of me didn’t Down the glen
Four men with their dogs; I thought this looked like an album cover
Great Rigg – part of the Fairfield round from Grasmere; apparently I’d been up that way as a child!
Reaching the top of Fairfield I was fortunately early enough that there weren’t too many people there yet. The Helvellyn range was looking stunning from this angle
Jaxter pose on Fairfield
Windermere
I didn’t want to start heading down just yet so decided to go for a wander. I headed towards Great Rigg which gave a nice view over towards Hart Crag and Dove Crag
Rydal Fell from Great Rigg
As the day continued I started meeting more and more people. I wandered back up to Fairfield and decided to wander out towards the crags. It was worth it for the view towards Helvellyn from this angle
Scrubby Crag from Hart Crag
I think this is the Buttermere Hills
Wetherlam and pals
High Stile and Fleetwith Pike
Is this Scafell?
As I walked back to Fairfield from Hart Crag I met a group of cyclists. I say cyclists, they were carrying their bikes
But as I arrived at the summit of Fairfield they rode off down towards Great Rigg where they said they could ride all the way down 
Fairfield was now very very busy and after a few photos I decided it was time to get outta there
The Eastern side of Fairfield is pretty impressive…
It was a wee bit hands on as I descended towards Cofa Pike
Helvellyn
Fairfield crags again
Grisedale Tarn
Cofa Pike was more exciting than I remembered it being but that’s probably because I scrambled right over the top this time
Looking back to Cofa Pike
I started the climb up St Sunday Crag and bumped into more people, some of whom where friendly. Looking back to Grisedale Tarn
Fairfield from St Sunday Crag
Arriving at the top I walked into a party in full swing as hunners of people were bantering away. Always up for a laugh I joined in, happy for abuse to be hurled my way
Bowfell
Striding Edge
People on Striding Edge
Hunners of people of Helvellyn
Helvellyn and Striding Edge
It was finally time to head down. The rain was forecast at about 3ish anyway so I made my way along the ridge.
Ullswater
There were some steep sections and I met some people heading up who were having a tougher time of it than me on the way down
Looking back to St Sunday Crag
I continued along the ridge and decided to go up and over Birks, because why now….
The steep descent after it was less fun, and it started to rain so I had to put my waterproofs back on. Deciding that walking back via Lanty’s Tarn would be nicer than the road, I headed for the bridge and then a very tired uphill
Back at the car, boots off felt amazing! After sorting my stuff I decided to wander around to the shop where I treated myself to an ice cream before the drive to Langdale for a shower, an actual bed, and a home cooked meal
The welcoming Langdale Pikes
The next day
