A Return to the North Pennines

A climb to Cross fell, at 2894ft  the highest mountain in England outside Lakeland

Total walk 2750ft 11.5miles

On another beautiful blue sky day I parked up outside St Lawrence's church Kirkland, north Cumbria.... 

....with the sun shining through the little bell tower

The climb starts gently with views west to the Lakeland fells....

....and after further climbing zooming in on Penrith and the northern Lakeland fells including the Skiddaw range

Blencarn tarn with Blencarn hamlet behind

Cotton grass thriving in an area which even in this dry spell remained damp

....and again

Once on the ridge the view opens up across the high Pennine moorlands to the east whilst the summit path climbs south.... 

....to the expansive summit plateau of Cross fell....

.....with the largest cross shaped summit shelter I've ever encountered. Cross fell is reknowned for it's strong 'Helm' wind and more often than not, poor weather....

.....but clearly not today

The Pennine Way follows the summit ridge with Great Dun fell at the southern end. The ridge forms the watershed with watercourses to the east to the North Sea and to the Irish Sea to the west

This is Tees Head where the infant river Tees begins its journey to the North Sea

On the summit of Great Dun fell is a radar station which forms a key part of the air traffic control system for the north of England and southen Scotland....

....and again

....and again

The descent follows a good path back into the Eden valley with Dufton & Murton pikes in view....

....in the wide open landscape

Finally arriving back at St Lawrences church

A Great day's walking taking advantage of a beautiful day to climb a mountain which on previous visits has always been in foul or at best cloudy conditions