I wasn't meant to be on the fells until Bank Holiday Monday so much so I was forced to turn down another invitation from David and Rod to join them on a walk on the Ulldale Fells before my non walking plans fell through at the very last minute which meant I had a green light to walk but unfortunately It would have been too late to meet up with David and Rod.

After a quick check of the forecast it appeared that the east, and far east of the park would escape any lingering showers but more importantly the low morning cloud which has continued to be a nuisance across the Lakeland fells this last week will of hopefully cleared by the time I arrived.

Why High Street? Well, I even asked myself this question because being the owner of a website delivering the fells is what I do but to deliver the same fell almost once a month can appear like I've lost the plot or simply ran out of ideas which I can assure you isn't the case, todays walk route was made up as I went along on some much favoured and loved ground, it just so happened that with the little time I had to plan where to walk High Street and its satellite summits never proves to disappoint and that was good enough for me.

I hope that makes some kind of sense.

It appeared that the forecast had put most off possibly until later in the day when things were set to brighten and because of this I was still able to park relatively easily forward facing towards the Reservoir. It would have been much easier to park had it not been for the two huge Motorhomes which had taken up residence over night both of which were taking up to three car parking spaces each which was slightly annoying to see, yes there's two sides to every story and happen when they had parked up last night the car park was empty but still, a little sensitivity to others wouldn't have gone a miss.

Despite the lack of sunshine the air is incredibly mild and I kit up accordingly in standard Summer attire although my sunglasses will have to be packed away until later. The sound of Gatescarth Beck is filling my ears as I walk through the new deer gate at the head of the car park which was where I guess in those few short moments I decide to head towards The Rigg at a point when I still hadn't confirmed my route and hadn't ruled out an ascent by either Small Water or the Gatesarth Pass.

This view of Harter Fell always leaves me with aspirations of wanting to gain the summit via the north ridge which from Mardale Head appears as a fantastic ridge route but when viewed from the top of Nan Bield Pass the ridge appears as a flat expanse of steep and rough ground, still, one day I think I'll take in the ridge if only to tick it off my ever increasing 'to do list'

I wouldn't always gain ascent on Swine Crag from The Rigg but the bracken was so thick (even though it's now in retreat) I thought twice about using the 'shorter' much steeper route from the lake path and instead made my way towards The Rigg where I found a young family also about to make their own ascent 'mornings' are shared as a trio of walkers disappear out of view up further up ahead.

I guess I'm not used to seeing so many people out but I had to remember that I set off much later than usual.

i continued to gain the ridge under overcast skies yet my view further east always appeared brighter as demonstrated here with highlights of sunshine over Kidsty Pike and even further eastwards towards the Pennines where there wasn't a cloud in the sky.

Oh well never mind.

The ascent of Long Stile was done with precaution as the rock was very greasy and wet underfoot meaning many footings had to be trusted first. It was here I caught up with the trio of walkers who turned out to be a father with his two young sons, we spoke briefly as they hoped that the cloud would clear by the time the summit was reached "me too" I replied before cursing matters adding "well at least it's dry"

The father and his sons continued to follow me before their voices faded behind me right about the time it started to rain D'oh!

The rain continued to fall and by the time I reached the summit I de-shouldered and added waterproofs and placed my camera into its case. With my back to the rain I found myself a dry boulder and plonked my backside down hoping to sit the shower out.

After around five minutes I realised I was just getting wetter and wetter and with this I started to feel the cold clinch my ears and hands, sod this I thowt better be on the move than sitting this one out. The father and his son's were doing the same behind me and were in good spirits "Spoke too soon I laughed" aye he smiled back. I left the summit and stuck out towards the Straights of Riggindale, this time opting to use the path on the Hayeswater Gill side rather the two paths either side of the summit wall.

Slowly but surely the rain eased and unbeknown to me the summit cloud behind me started to lift. Further west I was entertained by my view of wall to wall sunshine over Place Fell which lasted for the duration of my descent and the crossing over the Straights of Riggindale which I hoped was heading this way.

Seeing sunshine just a mile way isn't uncommon on the Lake District fells while being buffered and pelted with rain!

Wont be for too long and within minutes the cloud will have completely lifted.

With Kidsty Pike summit easily reached the two walkers who I had seen while on route to The Knott were just behind me, as it turns out they were walking the Coast to Coast having left Patterdale bound for Shap, they mentioned they were about a day ahead of schedule and were looking forward to relaxing once Shap was reached although one of the chaps did mention his sore knee which he had seen his doctor about about before the trip "you've never been 53 before have you" was his Doctors classic reply.

We shook hands before they headed off along Kidstys east ridge bound for Haweswater and eventually Shap.

From Low Raise summit I abruptly head south eastwards and descend by following a faint grassy trod avoiding the bogs when I could. This meant leaving the path at times and picking it up again sometime later. At what appears to be the end of the ridge a steep descent is required which is best descended by using a steep grassy rake towards the right, or simply aim for the two ruined sheepfolds seen in the photograph.

The ground can be rough underfoot meaning it's always best when off path to look a few steps ahead as it's quite easy to twist an ankle due to how uneven and steep the ground is.

Having ascended the rocky outcrop of Castle Crag the skies darkened quite dramatically and it started to rain which thankfully didn't last but the rain fell hard enough for me to pack my camera away and I completely forgot to take a picture from the summit, it was still warm and no sooner than I knew it the shower had passed by which time I had started the steep descent which overlooked a familiar stone wall which surrounded a coppice of trees. The path narrowed and was very steep in descent but it wasn't this that was causing me the problem, it was the almost shoulder height bracken.

I fought through the bracken but had to admit defeat and retraced my steps back to the coppice of trees before fighting my way again through more bracken which spat me out at the wall in the very left of this photo.

It's been a while since I had to wipe the sweat from my forehead but that's exactly what I had to do whilst walking back to Mardale Head under the heat of an afternoon sun. More walkers are passed on route to The Rigg as I cross the footbridge over Mardale Beck which brings me back into reality at a bustling Mardale Head carpark, one of two Motorhomes still remained and cars are parked back up Mardale Road for as far as the eye can see but I guess that doesn't matter knowing what a great day on the fells I'd had.

Before setting off I let all the heat out of the car and despite how busy the car park is it's still pretty quiet with the sound of chatter in the distance and the odd clang of a gate latch being closed which I guess was where todays walk ended.