It was impossible to know what the weather was going to be like when I booked these holidays the other week but with a little luck I might just get the weather window I needed. It rained yesterday which continued through the night and into the early hours of the morning but come late morning the rain would clear making way for bright sunshine, a rare forecast in the middle of November.

The forecast remained and next came where to walk, with only a four to five hour weather window I knew that my walk would have to be kept below eight miles so I thought I'd return to my old friend High Street and then go on to Mardale III Bell ending the walk with a descent via Small Tarn, a place surprisingly, that I haven't returned to for some years.

It was the perfect walk where I spent four hours soaking up my surroundings on the fells where I cut my teeth as a novice fell walker, I never knew it back then but a relationship between fell and walker was being forged and will continue to do so on this, my 25th High Street ascent.

It was raining when I left home and the low cloud and mist continued for much of my journey until I reached junction 37 of the M6 where I could see vast chunks of blue sky appearing between the grey cloud. The road surface was still wet with spray and either side of the carriage ways acres of fields glistened under the bright sunlight, thinks were definitely looking good.

I left the motorway at Shap and after driving through the village joined the back roads sign posted Haweswater. The roads here were bone dry and the skies were getting clearer and clearer by the minute but I could still see cloud clinging to the tops of the High Street fells which I guess after rain, was expected. Any lingering cloud had disappeared by the time I joined the Lake Road towards Mardale Head where I always try to stop to take a few pictures, it was here on the road my hands felt the chill almost instantly, I reckon I'll be needing the gloves today.

Despite this being a mid week walk there was still a handful of cars at Mardale Head but I still managed to park easily and began to kit up at the back of the car. I add my gaiters knowing that it's going to be pretty wet underfoot especially during my descent from Small Water. My gaiters are torn on the inside leg and really I should have got a new pair ready for Winter weeks ago but I just haven't got around to it yet. Through the new Deer fence a couple head out over Gatescarth Pass and all that is left is the sound of the wind howling down the valley.

With the car locked I leave the car park through the Deer Fence and head towards the footbridge over Mardale Beck, the ground underfoot isn't just wet it's also heavily muddied so I walk along the edges of the path to save my boots from getting too wet/muddied knowing I'll be needing them again in two days time when I meet up with David.

I was still stood at the grid reference on Swine Crag when this RAF Tornado screamed through the centre of the valley, seeing a Tornado isn't uncommon as the pilots train over the Lake District regularly and the best time to spot one is during the week such as today. As in most cases you hear the Tornado well before you can see it, I was just lucky enough that I hadn't put my camera away from the previous photo so I was able to get a few shots as he flew low over the top of Haweswater.

It remained bright so much so it was too bright to look back over my shoulder but I wasn't complaining. A cold wind accompanied my ridge walk and in gaining Rough Crag summit I was hugely disappointed to find that someone had destroyed the summit cairn which now lay scattered in heaps at my feet. Bastards.

Had I the daylight hours I could have spent time at least lifting the larger on the stones back into place but sadly time wasn't on my side and I had no choice but to continue towards Caspel Gate (seen as the depression up ahead) it's another much favoured place along the ridge for me and on a day like today I should be spoilt with great views.

Having descended Rough Crag I followed a faint grassy trod towards Caspel Gate Tarn and was rewarded with this spectacular view of Long Stile. The wind howled over the ridge and within what felt like seconds my hands began to feel raw, I think they've put up with the chill for long enough so I slipped a pair of gloves over them which instantly felt like I'd put them in the oven.

I hung around recording a short clip on my mobile phone which I later uploaded onto my Facebook page. I scour the ridge then the summit and across the compass. I spot no one.

There are no words to describe moments like these.

The final part of Long Stile ascent involves a steep climb over rough rock and by the time I reached the cairn at the top my body core temperature was through the roof but I couldn't feel my face due to the sudden windchill! Two fell runners run towards me and pass with a Hi before I make my way towards the summit where I also spot two guys who shield themselves (on this side of the wall) from the wind chill while eating hot food cooked on a camping stove. You wouldn't be human if you didn't envy them right now.

I make my way over towards the summit and tap the Trig Point with my gloved right hand. The wind is piercing and I scour the summit wall for the best shelter easing myself down on a dry rock as the summit wind howled over the top of my head, lunch today is going to brief to say the least.

With lunch eaten I re-shoulder and walk south for a short while having no choice than to avoid the ground underfoot which is sodden so I walk through the wild grasses instead. I soon reached the stone cairn where the path takes a sudden left turn towards Mardale III Bell while enjoying the views over Morecambe Bay which is illuminated in a golden glow as to was Windermere.

It's a gentle downhill stroll to reach Mardale III Bell and I savour every moment.

The difference between being between light and shade at this time of year, even at this low height is quite considerable and while I was still feeling the chill at least I was able to keep myself warmish by hurrying my ascent were possible. The sound of Small Water Beck was never far away and at times I wandered over when I could to view the waterfalls which roared over the top of the wind.

The car park from here is never far from view and after passing a couple who were making their ascent on Harter Fell in order to view the sunset I soon found myself getting closer to Mardale Head. The two walkers who I had seen eating from a camping stove had made their descent via the Rough Crag ridge and it looked like we would arrive back at the car park at the same time, I don't speak of my envy of their hot food back at the summit but during my drive south as the sun was going down I wondered of the couple who by now were about to take in a beautiful sunset from the summit of Harter Fell.