Having walked from our cottage to the pier we caught the last boat departing from Pooley Bridge that day.

As the steamer heads out along Ullswater we can see most of our route, under Gowbarrow Park and Little Mell Fell.

Ahead of us the white summits on the higher tops of the Helvellyn range confirm it would have been a great night for astrophotography, although a very cold one.

We soon sail pass Little Mell Fell and Little Meldrum.

Given the date and time of day the steamer stopped in time for the 2 minute silence, which we spent bobbing up and down in the middle of Ullswater.

Hallin Fell, from where we spent the two minute silence. The photos were taken after the two minutes had passed.

It was a delightful way to experience the two minute silence, made all the more poignant by the wonderful conditions and reflections we could enjoy in the silence.

Reflections of Hallin Fell as we head back out across Ullswater.

I'm sure this will look wonderful once it is completed, I just liked the reflection it made.

The reflections of Hallin Fell are soon disturbed as the steamer picks up speed.

We leave the steamer at Aira Force.

We join the Ullswater Way as we cross Aira Beck.

On this section of the route you can opt to go up to Aira Force and onto Gowbarrow
but as we'd already visted Aira Force earlier in the year we decided to pass on the
extra climb and instead took the path through the woods to Hind Crag.

Emerging from the trees we can look back along Ullswater to Birks and St Sunday Crag.

The path takes us uphill below Hinds Crag to Yew Crag.

It looks like the steamer we came out on is making its final trip of the day and is about to return to the pier at Aira Force.

As we climb the views continue to improve, here looking across to Hallin Fell, Swarth Fell and Loadpot Hill.

The view from Yew Crag where we enjoy a short break.

From the viewpoint we can also see Swinburn's Park, the wooded area we will shortly be walking through.

The view down Ullswater continues to improve as we continue along the path below Gowbarrow. Barton Fell, Heughscar Hill and even the Pennines are now in view.

Beda Fell and Steel Knotts can now be seen across Ullswater.

As we enter Swinburn's Park we pass one of the Herdwick Stones.

Thankfully for much of the route through Swinburn's Park we are not totally enclosed by trees so we can enjoy the views, here looking towards Gate Crags and Hagg Wood.

With the sun shining through the autumn leaves, walking through the wood is a pleasant experience.

As we leave the wood behind, we pass the third Herdwick Stone, Tethera, despite looking out for it we missed the second stone Tyan.

Before we dropped down onto the relatively flat fields that would take us back to our cottage we stopped for lunch with a view. Here looking across to Askham Fell and the Pennines.

Having dropped down to the road by the church we find ourselves crossing a series of fields and passing a barn that sells refreshments, although apparently not today.

Looking behind the brilliant blue skies from the morning have started to disappear and there is also a noticeable drop in temperature.

The route across the fields has been quite muddy so it will be quite nice to reach the road.

As we approach the road the last of the blue sky can be seen over Barton Fell.

As we reach the road the cloud appears to be dropping over High Street and we start to wonder if we will need the waterproofs.

We soon pass through the hamlet of Bennethead.

After a short section of roadwalking it is back onto the muddy fields where we enjoy a final view of the Helvellyn range.

A final view across Ullswater now includes a very white looking Rest Dodd. All that remains now is for us to follow the path back to our cottage, which we reach just after it starts raining.

 

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