All is calm down at The Tarns with only a few people about. Up on the top are the belted Galloway cows that inhabit the area. They must be used to people and dogs as they seemed very docile when we passed and never even gave us a second glance when we passed some of their brethren later on in the walk.

Iron Keld Plantation between Tarn Hows and Black Fell.

It made me feel old walking through Iron Keld Plantation - when I first walked this way 25 odd years ago, it was a thick pine forest. Over the years I have seen that felled and a new woodland landscape emerge - there are still some pines but mainly Birch trees now and they seem to be coming on well.

We made a small detour to spot height 297m (on the O.S map) for no reason really - there were no views today as the clag was down low. This made for a walk in silence apart from some distant chainsaw action and there wasn't a breath of wind.

Blag Crag, the summit of Black Fell looking over High Arnside.

Where is this Black Crag you speak of? Wainwright #6 for Finlay.

Windermere just about visible.

The south east cairn below with Esthwaite water beyond.

Down at the magnificent cairn.

Esthwaite Water from the cairn. As we walked back towards Iron Keld I could see a bird in the treetops and it was making a strange 'bop bop' noise. I couldn't for the life of me think what it was - a Rook perhaps? Answers on a postcard please if anyone knows...

At the Scott Memorial above Tarn Hows. We had to tippy toe past some of those Belted galloway's to get here. As I mentioned earlier, they never even looked at us even though we had to walk through the middle of their small herd.

Holme Fell beyond The Tarns - if the weather had been a bit better I may have taken that in as a round trip but maybe next time.

Finlay at the memorial.

Reflections back at Tarn Hows, the ripples caused by Finlay having a dunk, at least it cleaned all the mud off him. The good thing about finishing here is that there is a coffee wagon at the car park with a good selection of cakeys to go with it.

Hmmm, today didn't seem to be too promising. There were frequent heavy hail showers and the sky was duller than dull as I headed for the top of Black Fell.

A dusting of snow on Helvellyn and Fairfield.

...when I turned around I could hardly believe it! The wind had blown through the cloud and there was blue sky and the odd bit of sunshine around.

Looking across to Bowfell and The Langdale Pikes.

Sunshine on The Old Man.

Looking back to Tarn Hows and Coniston Water.

Where are we?

Lingmoor Fell lit up by the sun.

It was all I could do to stay upright the wind was so strong - here is a fleeting moment of sun and clouds that tells the story of the day quite well.

The summit looking to Coniston.

Close up on Helvellyn and Fairfield.

What's the weather like Fletcher?

Dougal takes it a little more regally than Fletcher.

A wider view of the Eastern fells.

The Fairfield Horseshoe.

Drama over Windermere.

The south east cairn.

A submerged jetty at Low Wood shows how much rain there has been around this week but the strong winds of last night and this morning have blown it all clear again.

The tide line shows how high the water has been.

Looking across Windermere to Crinkle Crags, Bowfell and the Langdale Pikes. On with the walk...

A pastoral view to the east from the track from Knipe Fold.

Casper and Dougal on the throne initialled 'CD'...made for those two, obviously!

The view through Iron Keld plantation to Windermere. The Low Wood Hotel (where the first photos on this page were taken) is the white building centre right.

'The Woolly Jumper' - I don't know what Dougal was up to but I stopped for a second and boi-oing, he was up here as quick as a flash, up a 7 foot wall in a single leap. Get him signed up for the Olympic squad quick!

Black Crag, the summit of Black Fell is to the left with the trig. column visible. To the right is the large south-east cairn.

The Langdale Pikes and High Raise with Lingmoor Fell in the foreground.

A wider view across Low Arnside.

Dougal and Casper on the summit.

Black Crag, the summit of Black Fell.

The view from Great Cobble.

Helvellyn and Fairfield.

Despite the sunshine it was still blowing a hoolie up here.

Looking across Ambleside to the Far Eastern fells.

Close up on the Langdale Pikes.

Crinkle Crags and Bowfell.

The boys check out the best way to the south east cairn, Esthwaite Water beyond.

Windermere, the Howgills to the right.

The south east cairn.

Helvellyn to the left, the Fairfield fells to the right beyond Great Cobble.

Esthwaite Water from the descent.

Moon rising to the east.

The Howgills to the left, Latterbarrow with the large obelisk visible to the right. On the way back...

Dreamy Coniston Water.

First stop today was Tarn Hows to check out the conditions. There were leaden skies beyond The Tarns today.

Wetherlam looming large.

Walking the track from Knipe Fold to Black Fell - there was even some sunshine

Up onto Black Fell and Wetherlam gets some sun.

The Helvellyn ridge and Fairfield.

Heading for Black Crag, the summit of Black Fell. The trig. column is to the highest point on the left and on the right is the south-east cairn.

Windermere from Black Crag.

Really strong winds up here today!

Looking north from Black Fell to Helvellyn, the Fairfield Horseshoe and Red Screes.

Casper keeps his back to the wind, spying something down below.

Tarn Hows.

Coniston Water and Tarn Hows.

Black Crag, the summit of Black Fell - no mistaking this one.

Wansfell Pike on the right with Ambleside nestling between them. Beyond are the eastern fells with the familiar outline of Ill Bell and Froswick behind Wansfell Pike.

A windswept Coniston Water from High Hollin Bank.