We had 2 possible routes planned for today both of which started at the Mirehouse car park on the A591. As we parked up the decision was obvious, we should give Bakestall and Skiddaw a miss, it was going to be the shorter and lower route today.
We set off following one of the way marked paths though the forest heading north parallel to the road and slowly gaining height.
We emerged from under the trees to climb up the side of Ullock Pike
The route ahead as we climbed the ridge.
The cloud still hadn't lifted by the time we got to the top of Ullock Pike
Looking down at Dodd through the cloud.
We walked over Long Side in the cloud but by the time we got to the top of Carl Side it had begun to lift.
Skiddaw was still completely enveloped in cloud. We felt that we had made the right decision on route at the beginning of the day for once.
We took the path south heading sharply down towards Applethwaite but then cut right to the bottom of Dodd before ascending it through the woods.
The summit of Dodd
I was last here 21 years ago when I had toiled up with a small child in a carrier on my back while he beat me over the head. He was so young that we had to wedge him in to the carrier with jumpers and, when he eventually fell asleep on the way down, tie him in with a spare boot lace to stop him slipping down.
He's grown a bit since the.
and over the valley the first Wainwright he walked up, Cat Bells.
Looking down at Bassenthwaite Lake.
A few raindrops started to fall again as the clouds began to gather and we hurtled down the paths to try and stay dry.
At one point, on a narrow path, a young family paused to let us walk past them and their little lad asked why we could walk so much faster than him. Remembering how, when my son was small, other people being interested in his walking meant so much to him, we stopped for a quick word of encouragement.
Then on to the tea room for celebratory tea and cake.