Michael

Uzzicar Farm – up to the col – Causey Pike – Rowling End - Stoneycroft.

No rain, in fact a mini drought by this year’s standards. Windy and cool in places. Cloud cleared later on to give a pleasant sunny early evening.

Michael, Michelle, and George.

Ashley and Bernie- Inaugural Monkey Hangers Hash in Hartlepool. Joint winners Excuse of the Year.

Ron and Sandy - Preparing to go on holiday in Spain.

Evelyn - being a Romantic Novelist in Penrith.

Olwen - in Wales.

Comments

A nice, relatively quiet walk of nearly six miles, over more rugged terrain than we had encountered for a while. We were taken aback by how dry the ground was. It was dry enough to sit on in many places. There was a long steady pull up to the col. Michelle was hit by the lurgey on the climb up, and after lunch, decided not to continue and did a shorter walk up the Barrow, a grassy hill, before returning to the car. However, we kept in contact using the walkie talkies.

We stopped to admire the zig-zags on Sail, before proceeding along the Causey Pike ridge. Two lively spaniels passed us, who went on to enjoy a swim in a tiny tarn. There were good views of Derwent Water, Langdale Fells, Great Cable, Great End, Wasdale Fells as well as the fine symmetrical V-shaped valley, of which the ridge formed one side.

Our tea stop was on top of Causey Pike, before we had a challenging descent down a twisty and steep, rocky path. We were glad that it was not wet as the rocks were polished. We summoned a lift from Michelle to save wear and tear on our knees by walking along the tarmac road.

There was an attractive modern house with a round stone turret and wood fascia up Newlands Valley. We ended the walk with shandies in the sunny garden of the Derwent Hotel in Portinscale.

Wildlife/Flora/Animals:

Birds: chaffinches, blackbirds, ravens, goldfinch, skylarks and a meadow pipit.

Plants/Trees: heather and wild thyme.

Mammals/others: nothing except sheep and cattle.

Shepherd’s Inn, Melmerby – enjoyable meals, although they were a bit short on vegetables. The large Camembert starter made a dessert an impossibility.

Sail zig-zags

Path through the heather

View from the Ridge

Photo of the Year

George in action

Descent

On the Ridge