With a weak front continuing it was decided rather than go ahead with our planned respective project walks that we should plan a walk below the low cloud all the while maintaining a healthy mileage.

It was touch and go whether this walk ever went ahead at all as the forecast just got poorer and poorer right up until the final hour, David was toying with a tour of the Lord's Seat Fells when I threw in "what about Walla Crag" which kinda ticked all our boxes due to how versatile you can plan a walk all the while 'hopefully' keeping below the low cloud at the same time.

We can make it up as we go along I went on to say, there's High Rigg, Watendlath and Derwent Water or, if the weather is too bad we can always head back to Keswick via Cat Gill...

We had arranged to meet along the lane close to Portinscale suspension bridge, you know the one where the camper vans usually park. I arrived at around 07:50am to find David already there, all I had to do was turn my car around where I managed to park between a Utilities van and Davids car. The devastation left behind by Storm Desmond over a month ago now littered the lanes, pathways and fields sometimes leaving full grown trees in the middle of a field or as you can see in this photo, debris for as far as the eye can see along the Cumbrian Way between Portinscale and Keswick, despite the morning still being under the cover of darkness it wasn't hard to see how much damage there is still to clean up, you name it and it was more than likely tangled up in this wire fence from pillow cases to goal posts, nothing had escaped the flood waters, I would like to say that it's hard to imagine that this area was under three feet of water a month ago, but sadly, it isn't that hard...the devastation was everywhere we looked.

Kitted up we had left the cars at the lane...It wasn't until afterwards did I silently wonder why a Utilities van complete with trailered mini digger would be parked up on a weekend morning, now I knew why.

The path along the Cumbrian Way lead us out over the River Greta and High Hill, an area of Keswick that was all over the news during and indeed after storm Desmond. The River Greta flows through Keswick and the High Hill area is the scene of previous flood damage during 2009 where after millions had been spent to increase defences, you may probably remember seeing the reinforced glass paneling which are part of the defences which, were breached on the 6th December but today, still lay intact although we could not see the extensive damage to Crosthwaite Road which bore the considerable brunt of the flooding.

After crossing the River Greta it was soon apparent that the terraced homes and small businesses were empty and on one occasion we could hear the noise from an industrial dryer in the one of the properties, sandbags piled on top of one another still blocked doorways for the short time use they provided. Keswick Bikes close to the mini roundabout are open and offered 50% of flood damaged bikes and stock, the closer we got to Keswick small businesses unaffected by the flooding carry on as usual, just like the paper shop we had walked past complete with early morning locals buying newspapers.

Having crossed the road at the mini roundabout we entered High Street, the setting for Keswick's most famous Market, traders here are setting up their stalls in the twilight hours, soon it will be as busy as usual but for now, its just myself and David and the odd person making their way to work.

"Hey Paul, Greggs is open'

David's light hearted comment lightens the mood as we head out for Springs Road, which is just under a mile ahead.

The path through Springs Wood is separated by a wooded bank on one side, and on the other by Brockle Beck, the heavy rain loosened the ground and the roots gave way unearthing countless trees, some of which like these blocked the path which, was passable with care. Along the river bank it's the same story as what was once a quaint beck turned into torrent, with this the river bank was washed away, re-shaping the river and taking anything along with it.

No it's not a ghost, just my breath, sorry!

The forecasters said the rain would hold off until around mid morning as we took in our limited views over Derwent Water which looked inky black. Our views were of mainly cloud, only Latrigg and Cat Bells summits apparent, for how long we wouldn't know. A wall of cloud was approaching from the east enveloping Clough Head and The Dodds, St Johns-in-the-Vale and the likes of Raven Crag was next although as seen in this next photo, it seemed to stop dead just short of our position which showed a little promise.

Fingers crossed, it still wasn't raining yet.

Spots of rain are now starting to highlight at my jacket yet despite this, the temperature is mild with a cool wind, soon we would stop while David adds an extra layer, but for now, lets see how long this rain will hold off.

We head out along the path which skirts across the top of Cat Gill.

Descent to Ashness Bridge was done carefully due to swollen ground but thankfully we made it with only minimal slips. A guy wearing full waterproofs is passed as he mutters 'morning' as he steadily makes is way up the fell side. A young girl runs by in just shorts and T-shirt carrying only a water bottle in her right hand, we could only look on at her determination, her exposed skin, red raw.

The rain hadn't let off at all, in fact it fell heavy and steady causing conversation to drop because lets face it, it's quite difficult to chat and walk while the rain is battering down on your hood.

We strike out heading steeply towards Surprise View first passing Ashness Farm along the way, behind the farm David spots a landslide that has taken out two dry stone walls narrowly missing the farm by about two hundred yards, the damage to the fell side wasn't particularly extensive on the grand scheme of things which goes to show no matter how small the landslip, in this case it was still carrying enough weight to level two stone walls fifty feet apart.

We press on, hoods fastened towards Surprise View.

Once we were out of the shelter that Ashness Wood provided we were taking on the rain head on, helped along by a cool wind which left fingers feeling raw, we could have complained more until we spotted the young girl again who we had seen back at Ashness Bridge, her route clearly defined. Who were we to complain when the young girl thundered past us once more, so motivated she didn't even return our 'morning' good on yer lass.

David had already seen the temporary bridge that had been constructed in replacement of the damaged Pack Horse Bridge a few weeks ago but all of this was new to me, I found it quite remarkable that the bridge was constructed in such a short space of time even though it's only for pedestrians, in a perfect world, why can't this way of thinking be rolled out across the park?

Too much red tape I guess!

We headed into the heart of Borrowdale best known as Rosthwaite, David reminds me of the times when the shop (seen here by the post box) was the centre attraction of the village especially during the summer months, although sadly, the shop has since been renovated into a end cottage.

We had only passed a farmer and a woman walking her dog between Rosthwaite and New Bridge on what would be, one of Lakelands best known beauty spots, today I guess the rain has put many a folk off. On reaching New Bridge we discovered more bright orange tape indicating that although the bridge was safe to cross a notice read 'please keep off the parapets'

Once over the bridge we could see why there was a need for the safety sign as both parapets were towing outwards and out of line.

We press on towards Low Hows Wood and thoughts of lunch.

We both agreed that at the next available convenient place to stop we would eat lunch, the trouble was, there wasn't anywhere to sit, with this we hunt down a lunch table which came in the form of a wet boulder for me, and a moss covered felled tree trunk for David.

It had finally stopped raining, if you looked between the gaps in the tree branches this wasn't the case as we sat to eat lunch while being peppered by rain drops that were falling from the branches above our heads, still, a nostalgic and peaceful place to eat lunch as conversation returned to full strength now that it had stopped raining.

Good times.

The Lake Path route won as we followed a narrow path towards Brandelhow Bay on the south east corner of Derwent Water, not before passing one home below High Ground that had by the narrowest of margins avoided a landslip that had taken out the properties front garden and driveway, and not to mention the stone wall on the opposite side of the road, this, when you think you are safe from flooding, but not landslip.

Our path had heavenly views over Derwent Water but also lay victim to recent flooding, at one point the channels in the path measured waist height and were at times two feet in width, extra care was taken and when we could, the path was avoided due to how unstable the ground underfoot was.

Despite seeing a few cars that had stopped to photograph the view from the road above we had not seen any one along the Lake Path with the exception of a young man who was enjoying a run out. The sun had gone back in but at least it was light and airy, the surface of Derwent Water was calm and at times reflected Walla Crag across its surface, we both agreed despite it only being a few hours ago when we were standing on its summit, right now it felt like it could have been yesterday.

Odd I know...

Before we arrived at the carving of the Hands something happened that made us both nearly jump out of our skin and possibly greatly increased our chances of winning the lottery given the rarity of such event.

Has anyone ever heard or witnessed a tree branch naturally fall from a tree? Ok I admit the branch didn't fall off whole but I bet as I type this it is now lying on the ground, said tree was only twenty feet away as we heard this almighty creaking sound, the branch which was probably two feet in width and about twenty feet in length came to halt although the crack in the tree was clearly seen, wait for it...wait for it...

After 'the initial shock of 'dear god how close was that' we waited for the branch to come thundering down, but it didn't as I am reminded of the philosophical thought of "If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?"

Yes, if definitely does!

We made our way around Hawes End before views over the summit of Cat Bells distinctly stood out noting three or four people making their descents. Legs and feet were starting to feel the miles after all, it's been some weeks since both David and myself have covered a walk ten miles plus due to the conditions.

We tramp through Overside Wood from where I stopped again to take this photo of Cat Bells then through Fawe Park and Nicol End, it was fast approaching two thirty and we agreed on what a great day; despite the earlier rain it had turned out to be. At Nicol End the landing stage had been damaged and warped due to recent flooding and one small boat had sunk which was still anchored to the pier.

A large family group pass by with small children in tow, one little girl in particular holds a stick in her hand and her pink waterproofs are muddied up to her waist, she hasn't a care in the world as she kicks through puddles holding dads hand.

Who says you can't have a great day out in the rain.