It's been a good four years since I last walked the Mosedale Horseshoe and over six years since I last set foot on Pillar's High Level Traverse, the latter being the main reason why I'm here today.

The Mosedale Horseshoe for me holds a place in the top five of Horseshoe walks in Lakeland mainly due to its epic views into both the Wasdale and Ennerdale valleys not forgetting to mention its main attraction, Pillar and Pillar Rock. If you're feeling extra adventurous both Kirk Fell and Yewbarrow can be included into the walk but it's not a given. Shortening the route such as I have today will also complete the Horseshoe.

I'm on holiday this week and I couldn't have asked for a better five days as the country comes to grips with its second heat wave of the Summer which is great but not the best conditions for spending the best part of six hours exposed to the heat and sunshine but I was fortunate enough to have a saving grace when it clouded over which at the time looked like 'the second coming' but at least it helped to cool me down.

Todays forecast was for any lingering cloud to clear leaving a 90% chance of cloud free fells by mid morning so I adjust my pack accordingly leaving just the essentials but the 3 litres of hydration I was carrying still made it heavy as hell. When fell walking on such a hot day it pays to pre-plan where your water sources are, not just for converting into drinking water but to cool down and if I'm honest other than Gatherstone Beck just a couple of miles into the walk getting the chance to cool down was scarce.

A few more cars started to arrive but there were plenty of places left to park. On the other side of the car park two guys check their climbing equipment and I wondered where they were heading, it's either Great Gable or Pillar, one of the two. After making sure my hands were clear of sun cream I locked the car and walked over to the wall to take in the view towards Great Gable.

Once I'd cooled down I wrapped my Buff around my head which is something I'd never had to do before but it was just so humid and hot I didn't care if I looked like a plonker, at least this plonker was cooling down.

I explained that I had and that he'd enjoy the little scrambles 'better going up than down' I added. The guy seemed a little nervous and just needed a little reassurance as to where the path was which I pointed out and soon we were joined by the couple I'd overtaken earlier. We had a good natter and the couple told me they too were heading onto Pillar 'might see you up top' I said before bidding them to 'enjoy their walks'

I waited a while longer until I started to shiver, I couldn't flipping believe it. Was it time to add an extra layer, quite possible. After a few more minutes of cloud watching I noticed that the cloud was just confined to the summits and didn't appear to dropping so I left Looking Stead and made the short ascent towards the cairn marking the start of the High Level Traverse.

There's still plenty of work to do before I can even think about lunch!

The first slab is easy to get around but the second had a good 80% coverage meaning the only way around is to drop off the path and carefully negotiate your way around.

That's the Slab seen in the centre of the photo with the Notch directly above,

'bit cooler up here' I said to the couple who replied "it is, but it's a welcome relief" I agreed. No sooner had I tucked into lunch I too was feeling the pinch so I slid a fleece on and continued with my lunch. No sign of the couple I'd seen at Gatherstone Head earlier though, I couldn't work out if I was ahead or behind them.

"Thats some walk you're doing today are you going to include Steeple as well I asked?" the guy replied "No" because it wasn't in the guidebook. I went on to explain that I'd completed the Wainwrights in 30 walks in 2016 but from the look on the guys face I don't think he believed me. Anyway I gave the guy some tips on ascending Stirrup Crag for his ascent on Yewbarrow before wishing the chap to enjoy the rest of his walk.

Continuing along the ridge I passed another walker who was sat down on the path and my thoughts turned to "Oh I'll just walk around you" but there was no need for me to be sarcastic after I passed the chap with a "hi" the sound of his voice just said it all and after a bit of a pause while looking down into the Mosedale valley he nodded "aye"

It's certainly a good way to bed your boots in.

After a fantasic day I knew the walk would come to a stop soon so I pulled back on the reigns and slowed to a trot, it was too nice to just turn my back on Mosedale and Pillar where only hours earlier I'd been forced to add a layer. In the afternoon sunshine I strode back to Wasdale Head making sure nothing was missed.

Beyond Kirk Fell the summit of Great Gable appeared but just its summit set against the bluest of skies. Kirk Fell is flanked by waist high heather which showed off its steep profile just a treat. Turning right though the gate I spotted Fogmire Beck over the wall and beyond that, a network of green fields all boxed in by works of art stone walling that no doubt Joss Naylor played some part in building. Ritson's Bar came next and through gaps in the trees I could see folk sat on benches and a dog paddling in Mosedale Beck. Out of half a dozen benches only two were occupied and I passed through unnoticed back into the sunshine of Wasdale Head and a sea of glimmering windscreens.