Eskdale 

A circuit including Harter fell, Horse How Crags, Hard Knott pass & the Eskdale Needle, returning down the upper river Esk 9.5miles 2750ft

Arriving at the parking area at the bottom of Hard Knott pass in Eskdale on a beautiful late spring morning

The Jubilee footbridge at the start of my walk....

....just below the parking area

Looking up  Eskdale from the path to Harter fell

A shepherds cottage across the valley

Harter fell ahead at the start of the climb

Looking back into Eskdale

A young couple were already on the summit looking like they'd been up early to catch the sunrise....

Harter fell has three rocky summits at 2142ft

Leaving Harter fell I descended north heading for Hard Knott pass. I took a short diversion to the top of Horse How crags for a view into Eskdale, looking down on Hard Knott Roman fort. The outline of the fort can just be seen on the ridge in the middle of the valley

Zooming in on the fort with the Bath House bottom right

Zooming in on the Bath House

My next objective was to find the Eskdale Needle on Hard Knott fell. On the way I passed this little tarn with some very pretty Bog Bean flowers

Descending Hard Knott fell I soon spotted the 'needle' standing at the edge of the crags overlooking Eskdale. it was back dropped by the Scafell range

I settled down for lunch in the warm sunshine at an interesting viewpoint....

.....including Ill Crag at the head of Eskdale

I then descended to Lingcove bridge with walkers  crossing on one of the routes to the Scafells

Down stream from the bridge is a lovely place for some wild swimming which was proving very popular in warm sun during the half term holiday....

....and again

A final look back as I enjoyed the easy walk back down the upper Esk valley 

Another great day's walking with plenty of interest