The trio is back together again on what was promised: an extended circuit of Hayeswater from Hartsop. David came up with this walk two weeks ago, but I had to cancel at the last minute to cover a sick colleague at work, and I've been thinking about the walk ever since. The initial plan was to walk Saturday on what was supposed to be a bright day, but the forecast deteriorated with rain arriving around lunchtime.

This walk deserved the best forecast, and that's what today provided. It was the type of autumnal day when everything fell into place, from near-perfect clarity to the perfect combination of experiencing summer, autumn, and winter all in one day, topped off with the distance and sometimes the not-so-distant sounds of deer rutting in the Hayeswater valley below.

It was the type of day that had to be embraced - a day when you walk that extra mile because next time, well, it might be grey, damp, dismal, and full of regret.

Autumn has officially arrived in Lakeland, with temperatures plummeting below zero for the first time in months and as a result, the trio has hung up their shorts and dusted off their long walking trousers. The stars were out when I left home, and the dark, clear skies continued that way until I reached Tebay where dawn broke revealing cloudless skies as far as the eye could see. Due to Kirkstone Pass being closed for resurfacing during October, my journey was extended by around 23 miles, but given how much I was looking forward to today's route, I hardly gave it any thought. It was just me and half a dozen rabbits who darted off in every direction as I drove onto the car park at Hartsop, shattering thin layers of ice that had formed over the puddles.

After reversing my car in towards the back of the car park, I left the engine running, the idea being that after I had laced up I would return to the car for a quick warm-up before the guys arrived, but that idea was thwarted when Rod pulled up soon after. We still had plenty of time before we were scheduled to set off stepping from one foot to the next trying to keep warm while I caught up with Rod; blimey, it felt much colder than it actually was. A few minutes later, David arrived, by which time I'd added my windproof, new Rab beanie, and gloves and was ready to go. A young girl and her dog pass through the car park as Rod and David finalise their kit, and I give her a morning nod and got one in return. She had disappeared beyond the large sheep pens by the time we set off, and after a clunk from the catch latch, we were off.

A little further on after passing a young couple on their way up to Thornthwaite Crag we arrived at Gray Crag summit cairn with the eastern fells never far from the skyline.

After crossing Hayeswater Gill, we passed the Pump House where we spotted what looked like a caravan actually inside the pump house. As odd as it seemed, we continued our descent, joining the tarmac track that once provided access to the Pump House, today, it was a fantastic alternative to the rough track on the opposite side of the gill. Under bright afternoon sunshine we took in the views into Pasture Bottom towards Threshthwaite Mouth while watching sunlight glisten off Pasture Beck below. It was one of those heartwarming end-of-walk views, but sadly, the light was too bright to capture it with my camera. The track joined the lane back to Hartsop from where we took in the last views of Gray Crag and The Knott, our first and final summits of the day, respectively.

A woman passed through the gate as we approached, and Hi's were shared as we entered the car park, feeling pleased that no one was double-parked, something that had been on our minds after David mentioned sometime ago that he had been boxed in for the best part of an hour and a half which by all accounts is more common than you think. I locked the gate behind me and passed a chap reading a book, one leg in his car, the other out, totally oblivious to our passing. We reached the cars and began our kit down, easing boots off whilst sitting on mini fold-away chairs, still not quite believing the perfect walk had come to an end while secretly hoping autumn would bring us more days like today.