The plan was to all meet up and if the forecast allowed we'd arrange a wild camp. That plan didn't last long due to the forecasts deteriorating come weekend. Rod was going to take advantage of Sunday's brighter forecast and during an exchange of emails I mentioned I'd be waiting the morning showers out and would probably plan a walk for Saturday afternoon.

David emailed suggesting the same idea but I was in work at the time and couldn't concentrate on where to walk so I replied saying I'd give him a call Friday evening to come up with a plan. I called David and in terms of the forecast, where to walk and taking into consideration Saturday afternoon parking we were certainly on the same page with David suggesting Bannerdale Crags East Ridge from Mungrisdale, Mungrisdale Common, Blencathra before returning to Mungrisdale via Souther Fell.

It's a route I have walked many times and how was my suggestion of Little Mell Fell and Gowbarrow Fell walk going to trump David's suggestion was beyond me. Well, judging by David's enthusiasm after hearing my route it just did. As we learned today it's not all about getting high on the fells, those lowly hills such as Gowbarrow Fell can pack the same punch for less than half the effort.

We arranged to meet at The Hause, the road which links Ullswater with Matterdale then Troutbeck thereafter. I arrived a good ten minutes early and managed to park in front of David's car. The good news was it looked like the showers had passed but it was windier than expected so much so we threw on soft-shells just to take the edge off.

Calva waited patiently in David's car while David kitted up at the rear, I say patentley he was so excited I thought he was going to jump through the windscreen. Within minutes we locked the cars and set off for the short but steep ascent on Little Mell Fell.

Fantastic views as we continue around the western flank of Gowbarrow Fell now heading towards Norman Crag.

As a first timer here I wasn't expecting the views to be so good and not just that after the hustle of Aira Force it was like we had walked into another world on a different day.

Loved this place.

It's not very often I would use the word staggering but that's the word I'm going to use to describe the last couple of miles between Ulcat Row and Lowthwaite where David and I stopped to take in the views a camera simply couldn't match.

Leaving Ulcat Row behind we turned right for The Hause where we passed a group taking it easy on the incline of the road "your much faster than us" they said "hey up" we replied. The incline caused the gentlest of burns but I didn't say owt instead I took in the view towards Little Mell Fell which was still busy with families traipsing up and down. Our cars were soon reached and for the first time since being on Gowbarrow's summit the wind had returned only now it was helping us to cool down under the warmth of the afternoon sunshine.