Cat Bells 4.5miles 1400ft ascent

 Cat Bells 4.5miles 1400ft ascent with
two new walking companions all the way from Washington DC!

Michael with his friend Joe; last seen together 40 years ago in
Liberia, West Africa! 

Joe and his wife Denise at the start of the walk up Cat Bells

Arriving at the summit with hardly a pause 451m (1480ft)

The summit view finder

The path of descent with Derwentwater (right) Skiddaw on the
horizon and Bassenthwaite lake (top left)

Cat Bells is a very popular climb from Keswick

The southern end of Derwentwater with the Helvellyn range
on the horizon

Denise and Joe with relief on their faces after a successful
negotiation of an awkward scramble 

Looking back to the summit from Skelgill Bank

The descent continues....  

...with the ground levelling out

Derwentwater again with Blencathra (right) & Skiddaw (left) on the horizon

Back in Keswick at the lakeside ferry landings
Thanks Joe and Denise for a really enjoyable day in your great company.
It might be a bit tricky to leave it another 40years!!!
Safe journey home  

Wasdale Scree ridge from Miterdale - 11miles 2600ft

.... definitely 'a not to be missed' walk in Lakeland!

Looking back down Miterdale

After parking at Eskdale Green, the walk begins through Miterdale.

The path passes the remote and atmospheric Burnmoor tarn...

...and again

The cloud now rising steadily off Lingmell and Great Gable...

...and the sun now shining on Wasdale Head from the climb up the
ridge

The head of Waswater appears from the edge of the ridge

Sellafield atomic energy plant on the Cumbrian coast

Illgill Head summit 609m (2000ft) today's high point

The views are dramatic from the 2000ft shear drop to Waswater
below...

...and again

...and again to the western end of the lake

..and Yewbarrow and Kirk fells

The main ridge is pitted with deep gullies and minor ridges...

...all the way to Whin Rigg on the western end

A section of the screes come into view...

...and the great views continue...

again...

  ...before reaching the end with a view of Ravenglass and the
estuary of the rivers Esk, Mite and Irt 

 The final descent through Miterdale forest

Keswick ascent to Carlside & Skiddaw and descent into Barkbethdale, 9.5miles, 3280ft

The scree path to Skiddaw summit from Carlside

Ullock Pike from Carlside

Looking back to Carlside from the scree path

Approaching the summit of Skiddaw 931m (3054ft)

Bassenthwaite lake from the summit

Longside edge from the summit

 The lengths some will go to for a photo

Broad End and the Solway Firth from the north summit

Descending into Barkbethdale

Looking back to Gibraltar Crag and the summit now in cloud

 Ullock Pike and Longside edge from Great Knott

The path to Ravenstone Manor hotel for the bus to Penrith

Eagle Crag, Sergeant's Crag & Ullscarf (Borrowdale) 11.5 miles 2800ft

The history of the monks of Fountains Abbey's connections with
Stonethwaite

Setting off from the hamlet of Stonethwaite

Eagle Crag rises above Stonethwaite

Crossing Stonethwaite beck

Part of the coast to coast path in Greenup gill

Looking north to Borrowdale
from the top of Eagle Crag 500m (1601ft)

Stonethwaite from Eagle Crag

Sergeant Crag's summit cairn 571m (1873ft)

The horizon to the south - Bow Fell, Esk Pike, and Great End

The way ahead along Greenup edge to Ullscarf 

Thirlmere and the Helvellyn range from Ullscarf summit
726m (2382ft)

Watendlath tarn

Waiting for the bus back in Keswick