Picture taken on the way to Patterdale, a nice bright start to the day

After parking at the Hotel, the path takes us through a short wooded section

The valley is in sunshine, but it is cold. Low clouds on the fells ahead

The walking at this point is almost too easy - we don't get much impression of progress or ascent on these wide shallow paths

We saw many red squirrels - not easy to get in a pic

As you can see, this section of the route is part of the famous C2C

I wouldn't choose to mess with any of these. They were close to the path - fortunately they didn't approach

Just after this robust little footbridge, I stop to put on all my layers. The wind is buffeting all around us now

Rex closes his eyes against the wind as I layer up and put on the woolly hat

Ruthwaite Lodge, which means we're about 75% of the way to Grisedale Tarn

From near the col before we turn left to climb Fairfield (Hause Gap), there is a distant view of Grasmere and Windermere beyond

Starting the ascent to Fairfield. A corner of distant Ullswater in view

Panning left to take in Seat Sandal

Nearly at the summit of Fairfield now, unfortunately in a windy whiteout

So after the summit pic, we rapidly descend

towards Cofa Pike, similarly shrouded

At Cofa Pike, Rex looks back to Fairfield and the clouds that seem to be following us

You can almost feel the weather closing in ...

This is what the paths on Cofa Pike look like

The onward route to St Sunday Crag

Ullswater comes back into view

but first we divert towards Gavel Pike

At Birks, just the descent to Patterdale to go

Our route back

The lower section of this path, it's feeling long now

A stop off at Ullswater so Rex can have a quick splash around