Would you believe the first Bank Holiday weekend of the year and the whole country is hit with yet another wintery blast all the while Daffs are flowering and the fields are starting to fill with Spring Lambs (albeit in their winter jackets)

Todays walk is planned around the forecast taking in a much loved area of mine, the far eastern, or Shap Fells, I have always regarded this area of Lakeland as my favourite owing to the solitude they provide where I can take as much pleasure from a walk here as I could on Bowfell or Gable.

'Sleddale Fell' is a classic round taking in the remoteness of the Shap Fells, a walk where once height is gained views remain over miles of heather into distant vallleys, an area of Lakeland where the only people you might bump into are seeking the same solitude as you.

Some may describe this area of Lakeland as flat or boring but I don't believe this to be true. Sleddale Fell conjures up nearly seven miles of remoteness collecting four Birkett summits starting from Sadgill Bridge in the Longsleddale Valley, others may know this walk as 'A Longsleddale Round' Bill Birkett simply named it 'Sleddale Fell' after the fells which over shadows the valley.

Todays forecast was a mixed bag of cloud, rain and snow showers and it had just stopped raining by the time I arrived at the parking spaces next to Sadgill Bridge. I parked easily although had I have left it any longer this wouldn't be the case with the parking spaces already looking full, I guess there's quite a few out ahead of me. A light breeze makes the morning air feel much cooler than it is and with this gloves are added if only to take the bite away. Waterproof over trousers are conveniently left below the lid of my pack as starting the walk with them on just seemed a little overkill.

With my car locked I gaze up at my last summit 'Great Howe' seated directly above Sadgill and pick out my descent route which included the location of a gate which allows access through a stone wall just below the summit, it's no hardship should this gate be missed but it is included in todays walk detail at the end of the walk. With my car locked I head northwards towards the head of the valley.

The track levelled for a while after passing a sheepfold on the right. Continue further until this sign is reached, cross the beck and follow a worn path through Brownhowe Bottom.

Despite recent rains and snow it was nowhere near as boggy underfoot as looks suggest.

The ascent of Tarn Crag was a great highlight taken from the walk whichever changing conditions where one minute I was contemplating reaching for my sunglasses the next, I was back in cloud. Everything that the Shap fells mean to me was experienced during my ascent with gaps in the cloud breaking allowing distant views into Mosedale or the simply things like droplets of water hanging from the heather as the sun streaks through made my ascent a real treat.

The shoulder of the summit was soon reached where I was plunged into low light while further west blue skies continued to open. I was now well within the snow line which wasn't hampering things too much my only complaint being how wet the snow was leaving the ground pretty slippery underfoot but on the plus side the ground was semi frozen so at least I didn't sink all the way through.

Conditions deteriorated slightly as soon as I left Tarn Crag when thick dark cloud rolled in which obscured any sunlight leaving me thinking had I seen the best of the sun, perhaps. Care was taken descending to the area around Greycrag Tarn mainly due to the wet snow which acted like ball bearings on top of the wet grass.

The area around Greycrag Tarn is notoriously boggy, even during drought. At one time I used to cross this area alongside a wire fence which is often submerged where on some occasions you will find stepping stones left by the kindness of strangers yet after recent visits I think I have found the best way through while keeping relatively dry, this, by keeping the fence about twenty yards left sometimes straying around unavoidable boggy areas and I escaped reasonably well. Conditions however change daily and seasonally, either way expect to get your feet wet when making this crossing and if you don't, well, that's a bonus.

By the time I reached Grey Crag it had started to snow bringing with it fleeting cloud which obscured views in almost every direction, present conditions brought a new meaning to the word bleak. Harrop Pike just seemed to blend it the horizon as did Tarn Crag looking north, its survey Pillar faintly silhouetted against the grey cloud.

I circled the summit feeling cold, I'd made good time so before I headed towards my last summit of Great Howe I hung around a while and it stopped snowing, I could now see movement on Grey Crag next to the Survey Pillar and I wondered of their route. Through the cloud and in the distance smoke billows from the chimneys at Lime Corus Line Works over at Shap and, I have a gulp in my throat.

With the summit of Great Howe behind me I descend steeply towards the right before reaching a stone wall and a fence which I cross easily, the fell side is steep but a natural grassy corridor leads through dead bracken making the descent much easier this time of year while offering grip underfoot. I make it down to the fields below before arriving back at Sadgill via a gated wall. The farmer has lit a fire and plumes of grey smoke rise through the trees and up into the air meanwhile new born lambs huddle behind walls not making a sound.

It's time to head home while reflecting on a great walk in a much loved area of Lakeland that I really should visit more often.