The cottage we are stopping in is upside down so most days if we wanted to know if we were able to go for a walk we just looked out of the living room window to see how much of this view was visible. Today was one of the few times we could see the tops of both Grasmoor and Whiteside so a walk it is.

From the cottage we almost instantly access the path down to the lake, whilst we are here we assess where we might come later this evening for the promised aurora.

Low Fell and Darling Fell as we make our way down to Sandy Yat.

Looking back to where we have been stopping all week, although the actual cottage is obscured by the trees.

Most of the shots looking in the direction we are walking result in the fells ahead of us being in shadow.

Hopegill Head is visible today, we haven't seen much of it since Sunday.

We reach the beach at Sandy Yat and turn to walk below Mellbreak.

As we head along the shore Rannerdale Knotts and all it's rocky crags start to become clearer.

We make rapid progress and Lanthwaite Wood on the opposite bank is soon behind us.

Ahead of us Low Ling Crag is a possible spot for a coffee break. When we get there a couple with their dogs are sat there so we leave them to it and look for somewhere else to stop.

Looking across to Lad Hows, one of the Birkett tops we did many years ago on our way up Grasmoor.

Whenever we do a circuit of Mellbreak this is the valley we come down, so from here until we reach Buttermere it will all be new ground for us.

Having crossed the bridge we find a convenient rock which is just ideal for a quick coffee break.

Looking across to High Snockrigg during our coffee break.

As we are about to get going again we spot some jets heading down the valley and for once we have our cameras ready.

Ahead of us Fleetwith Pike is starting to dominate the view.

Before we have chance to move another pair of planes come along the valley.

Looking back to Mellbreak and Scale Knott.

Knott Rigg comes into view just as we reach a rather boggy section that requires a fair bit of bog-hopping from me. As usual John makes it across much faster than me, one advantage of longer legs.

Looking back along Crummock Water after I have made it across the rather boggy section.

Having reached the path for Buttermere we follow it to the road through Buttermere.

Rather than follow the road we take a footpath through the wood back to Crummock Water. I later discovered we could have avoided the road altogether and joined the footpath at the car park in Buttermere.

We have lunch sat in the sun looking across Crummock Water to Mellbreak.

When we make a move we will take the footpath through these trees.

Once through the wood we cross the meadow below Wood House to reach the road.

Looking across to Woodhouse Islands.

Looking back to Long How now we have reached the road.

Looking down Crummock Water to Low Fell before we start the long section of road walking. We could have diverted uphill and taken the path along the lower slopes of Rannerdale Knotts but didn't fancy the climb in the heat.

We had walked through Lanthwaite Wood on Sunday morning and followed the lake side path up to the road so we knew that as we approached Whiteside we would soon be leaving the road.

Looking back to Grasmoor just before we enter Lanthwaite Woods.

Heading through Lanthwaite Wood and thoughts turn to making our final visit, this holiday, to the Kirkstile Inn.

Before we head along the road to the pub there is time to enjoy one of our favourite views down the valley to Great Gable.

Just as we pass our friend's cottage we hear another plane overhead, although this one is a bit slower than the ones we saw earlier in the day.

Later that evening we made our way back onto the fields close to High Park with our cameras and tripods to take some shots of the aurora, here looking in the direction of Whiteside.

The aurora was starting to fade so I turned my camera in the direction of Mellbreak for a shot of the Milky Way.

As we had a very early start the next morning we weren't able
to stay up and catch the really strong lights later on, maybe next time.

 

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