Harthside

Sunday dawned a little damp and grey, but not to be put off, we set sail for Grasmere, full of a walkers' optimism!!

The weather, if anything improved, so after meeting up with Chris & Mary in Grasmere, and following a quick coffee in the cafe, we set off for Greenburn valley.

Some of the cottage gardens were full of colour...

As ever the climb soon started, so here we are 'catching our breath' at Helmside cottage..

Then started the long drag up the valley, our climb traversed back to the 'Lion & Lamb' summit, you can see this off to right in the photo below...


Now as you know, no walks a good walk without a picnic! So here we are at Gibson Knott, taking light refreshments...



All to soon its off again, now for the final ascent to Helm Crag at 396m.... (The Lamb is the small stone on the left, the Lion the bigger one to the right)




Below we see a rather tired Paul, having just mounted the Lion.....

And now a rather steep and slippery descent to the woods below, you can just see Lake Grasmere, with its island, in the mist....

Unfortunately, its now raining quite hard, but there are still a few bluebells left to add a little colour to the rather damp woods, as we return to Grasmere in search of a pint of 'Landord's best foaming ale' as Chris Hudson repeatedly proclaims!!!


PS. We found the pub and the pint!!! All in all a very good days walk....