I worked last weekend, which kinda worked out as both Saturday and Sunday were washouts. That didn't stop me from taking a local walk up Winter Hill on what could only be described as a very windy, cloudy day. It's not very often that I find myself in the clouds on Winter Hill at just 1,400 ABSL, but I did that day.

While my wife Paula is away with friends in New York, Brad, Holly, Vinnie and me are left to fend for ourselves and up to now the house is still standing and... wait, let me track back a bit. Who's Vinnie? I hear you ask, well, Vinnie is my wife's best friend's Cavapoo, whom I'm minding. 

Rod and I were meant to walk Hopegill Head and Whiteside from Hope Gill yesterday, but the forecast deteriorated, leaving fog and mist over the Lakeland Fells almost down to ground level, and it stayed that way all day. Sunday's forecast was marginally better, with the best of the weather from midday onwards in the east of the park, but I had a hankering for Wetherlam in the south, which, as it turns out, also enjoyed some sunshine.

After I had climbed the final rock gully there is still a good 100ft over grass shoulder to scale before the summit is reached which is where I bumped into a solo chap and his dog heading down Wetherlam Edge. After a 'you alright' I continued towards the summit only to look back to find the chap straying a wide right, this was a big no-no as he was heading towards the cliffs above Glassy Crag and I hoped he would find his way back towards the path before he committed.

The summit cairn was soon reached and once again I felt like I was inside a tumble drier as the wind took my walking poles so they were almost horizontal. It was funny as didn't remember reading how the strong the wind might get, perhaps 20-30mph and it certainly felt the high end of the latter. Not wanting to be bowled over I tapped the cairn with the tip of walking pole and began to head south towards Lad Stones and the top of Steel Edge thereafter,

In the lee of the second gully I'd stopped to eat lunch now protected from the wind by crag I was soon caught up by the couple I'd spotted back on the summit who turned out to be a mother and son with a miniature Irish Jack Russell with them as we swapped pleasantries they passed before I wrapped up and continued my descent. Away from crag I was back in the winds firing as it howled around me back came the snurching nose and watery eyes. It began to rain for the final descent of the ridge but thankfully it never amounted to much as I crossed Yewdale Beck by the wooden footbridge. It was now starting to brighten up just as the eastern fells scored a late equalizer.

Tilberthwaite bound I joined the path flanked by Tilberthwaite Gill below, Christ there were some steep drops as I looked down on top of the tree canopy with cascades of white water in between. The rain stopped and with it the wind dropped as Low Tilberthwaite came into view as did the car park below where folk crisscrossed its tarmac most of whom I suspect, were heading for the Cathedral Cave or Slaters Bridge. Almost down to tarmac myself when the solo walker and his dog I'd seen at the head of Wetherlam Edge came into view descending the old quarry track that links Tilberthwaite with Little Langdale, I did a quick recce of his route in my head and we nodded as I crossed Birk Fell Gill arriving at the gate almost at the same time. I twist my final descent passing Tilberthwaite Cottages and a lovely looking wicker owl which I didn't appreciate half as much as I did after viewing the photo when I got home. Tarmac now and people, lots of them marching to and throw as I reached my car, unlocked the boot and turned my back on the crowds whilst kitting down to roar of Yewdale Beck just over the wall.