Having read the weather forecast the previous evening it was agreed we would plan a walk that didn't involve gaining too much height, the reason for this was the forecasted showers pushed along by 50-60mph winds.

I & indeed we have stood in winds close to 50mph and I can vouch that only after a couple of minutes standing there I was glad I could drop out of it, walking especially in exposed areas can be a conversation killer, not bad when like me you often mutter to or worse, sing to yourself, but not in company.

It was agreed we would drive to the Wythop Valley & take in two of Lakelands most north westerly fells of Ling & Sale Fell both of which, I regrettably have to say, I haven't visited for a number of years.

It all started at the parking spaces at Burnston Bridge, where I had a little trouble trying to park my car.

We had planned to arrive at Brumston Bridge Wythop Mill sometime around 09:00am, it wasn't long after when we arrived to find the parking spaces empty leaving us ample space to leave the cars, David neatley reversed his car into the space as I watched the front of his car almost scrape the tarmac due to there being a dip between the road and the slightly elevated spaces, soon after I repeated but found my cars front bumper did in actual fact scrape the tarmac ever so slightly, being the idiot I am I thought I'd give it another go for good measure, the sound of my bumper once again could only be compared to extracting teeth without anaesthetic...

Back up Paul...

In the end I realised there was no way my car would back into the spaces so I did a quick recky whilst at the same time spotting a layby further up the road, it was here I reversed my car into taking note that I had left the car at good 10° angle.

With David & Jennifer ready we strode off in the direction of Brumston Bridge quickly noting that even so low in the valley the wind was rushing through the trees above our heads at quite a pace already.

After crossing Brumston Bridge our road climbed steadily before arriving at a T Juction, this was our queue to turn right & head for the steel gate just a short distance away. Our path soon lead us onto open fellside where we soon found that we were walking head long into a westerly wind, our path rose gently across the fell side as we took in the gentle incline heads down only stopping for conversation once we had our backs to the wind.

Windy in't it!

The summit of Ling Fell was as expected, exceedingly windy which with the added bonus of a cool wind chill made for the briefest of summit times.

We soon left the summit with our backs to the wind which at least gave for some welcome respite where conversation was soon restored.

It was not only great to be out of the wind but in the sunshine too as it drifted across the fell side at a great pace in most instances all of which was over quicker than the time it took to get the camera out.

It was here we plotted our route opting to gain Sale Fell by first passing Kelswick Farm then an east stroll by the stone wall lets just hope this sunshine continues.

Our route can be seen if you follow the treeline below Ling Fell from left to right, Brumston Bridge sits low in the valley hidden in the photo close to the tall Pine Trees.

I don't think I can ever remember walking past the cars en-route before as we did today, if the weather had been any worse the temptation might have got the worse of us, but thankfully despite the gusts once more we passed them by as the tarmac road rose steadily towards Kelswick Farm.

After following the stone wall we rounded the eastern side of Sale Fell before a short climb towards the summit, the wind by now was blowing directly at us once again as one by one we all strode for the highest point.

David & I took a few shots while trying to keep a steady hand in the wind, it was while at the summit did I dig both my walking poles into the ground but the wind soon got the better of them no sooner had I turned around. Uncomfortable to stand up in maybe too strong a word as Jennifer demonstrates as once again summit time was kept to a minimum.

Although it was sheltered to a certain degree sitting down wasn't without its discomforts as like the two women in the photo, it was best to keep moving.

Our path took us down besides the stone wall where once again we had to walk headlong into the wind which you would have thought we would have been used to by now. As we made our descent towards Wythop Church we passed many a walker out for a Sunday walk or if your feeling energetic, a Sunday run.

Our path soon lead us away via branch of path bound for Kelswick/Brumston Bridge where we had the option of descending the fell side by means of a very steep path besides a stone wall, we opted out of this not for any other particular reason in that we weren't in any rush to get back to the cars.

This walk or indeed any type of low level walk when the forecast isn't great for the higher fells comes highly recommended, often I have sat out bad forecast at home when really all I had to do was use my common sense & take the forecast with a pinch of salt, after all...it should have been raining today.

Besides, even if you do get wet, with rewards like todays walk, well, I guess that's why they put heaters in cars.