After five days of continuous sunshine, it had to end come the weekend, and the kick in the teeth was having to cancel a walk I had planned with Tim. It felt like the biggest sucker punch even to a seasoned fellwalker, its still frustrating. I could only watch the webcams from home, which confirmed Saturday's forecast of heavy rain and cloud so low it was touching the tree tops. Okay, I might be exaggerating, but you get my drift.

I made use of the drier weather around home by spending time in the garden and an extra long dog walk. Sunday's forecast was much drier than Saturday's, but with more low clouds forecast throughout the morning, it was never going to be the perfect day for a fell walk. Be that as it may, I packed my gear anyway and set my alarm for 6:00am. By 6:40am, I was driving north, not quite knowing where to walk.

That's when the idea came back to me from a couple of weeks ago.  Although it's been five years since I last walked through Longsleddale, it feels much longer, I remember how much I used to enjoy the valley walk before yomping through bog onto Grey Crag and Tarn Crag, which to this day are two of the Lakelands quieter summits. What confirmed the walk for me, however, was a re-visit to Harrup Pike, the setting for last summer's wild camp and another personal favourite fell of mine.

Not only is Longsleddale one of the most remote Lakeland valleys, but it's also one of the closest to home, with my journey taking just one hour and twenty minutes. It had rained on and off, and by the time I'd reached Sadgill, the showers had pushed through, leaving high-level grey cloud. Yesterday's rain was evident pooling in the narrow lanes, while new-born lambs bleated beyond the stone walls. 

The sound of the farmer's quad bike faded into the distance and the only thing breaking the silence was the sound of the River Sprite as it meandered through the valley. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect setting to kit up by. Just opposite, two guys, a woman, and their Cocker Spaniel were getting ready to leave, and as they passed, nods and mornings were shared. 

Despite spring being in the air, it certainly isn't short weather just yet; in fact,  there's a wind blowing down the valley, which prompts me to add my beanie and gloves after I'd laced my boots up. After a final gear check, I lock my car, turn heel and begin the two-mile walk through the valley towards the Longsleddale side of the Gatescarth Pass.

Besides being especially fond of Harrup Pike another reason for my visit was to return to the site of the wild camp we had last summer. We had hiked up from Shap Road summit in 30°C heat and had planned to visit Wasdale Pike but with the heat coupled with laden packs we were forced us to cancel and head straight for Harrup Pike.

We had set up camp in no time and with just enough light for us to visit Grey Crag we returned to camp just as the sun was disappearing behind High Street. Even though it's been some months since that night memories came flooding back including a magnificent super moon and watching the Perseid Meteor Shower.

It might not be to everybody's taste, but the stretch between here and Great Yarlside is some of the best walking territory in the whole of Lakeland, or what I like to call 'Lakelands best mile'

With the gully behind me, all that was left was 150ft of grassy descent, where at times I was lured off path for that 'better view' The trio I'd been tailing had passed from field to track via the gate below before heading towards Sadgill where a few more cars occupied the parking spaces than this morning. It was much milder now, and I was feeling the benefit after taking off my hat and gloves off back on Grey Crag.

The trio were all crammed into one car eating lunch, and as I passed, I gave a nod and got one in return from the chap sat in the passenger seat. I was hungry now, and I after changing my wet boots back to a pair of Karrimor mids, I laid my lunch out on the passenger seat before dropping both front windows and putting the car into gear.