It's fair to say that although my two thousand footer campaign is over trying to tell my mind and legs that I can now relax is becoming something of an issue, I guess what I am trying to say is I miss the arduous challenges and settling back into normal walking is going to take longer than I first thought. With this and, during a week off from work I put together this route which part of was first suggested to me by Ian 'S' a long time ago 'Paul you must try the Yeastyrigg Crags Ridge' or similar words to that effect. As mentioned I'm not even sure Ian will remember but I did, and, as always I put it on my 'to do list'

The season of Autumn above all else is my favourite season of the year, nature starts to slow down as the days get shorter, it is also the time of year we tend to get that crisp morning fresh air along with seasonal air quality meaning on a good day, a long distant view is just that with no haze and only the distant horizon or the shimmer of a far away sea. The colours of the grasses start to turn their Autumnal red as does the retreating Bracken which, on a day like today when the sun shines bright, turns the landscape into a sea of colour.

Although todays walk collects three Wainwright summits my route will see me take in eight summits altogether some of which I summited as part of my two thousand footer campaign, with the exception that today, my views are much more distant. I had initially planned to make Great Moss the walks singular objective summiting Esk Pike and Great End in the process until I was reminded of my previous summits of Hanging Knotts and the Bowfell Buttress when I couldn't see my hand in front of my face, which was all the sway I needed.

I couldn't have picked a better day for it.

The forecast was for a bright day with long spells of sunshine after an overcast start, I guess I arrived between the two with low light but there was promise in the skies above, with this I had intentionally set out an hour later to let one weather front make way for the other, my timing couldn't have been better. After leaving the hustle of Ambleside behind I was soon taking in the narrow lanes of Little Langdale with no traffic either in front, or behind me until I reached the foot of Wrynose Pass where I was passed by a Landrover who had just come down the Pass, with this I put the car into first, then second gear and kept it there until I reached the Three Shire Stone found close to the top of Wrynose Pass all the while studying the pot holes that I had remembered their locations from previous visits, one terrible memory of which was when I thought I'd split my alloy wheel in two, so yeah, the notorious pot holes get remembered.

Despite arriving an hour later I was able to park easily as I reversed my car into a Lay-by close to Cockley Beck Farm, said lay-by is only wide enough for perhaps, two or three well parked cars, with this I start to kit up under low light yet blue hints between the cloud are everywhere if you look. Todays route will involve a crossing of Lingcove Beck and I wasn't sure of the spate I would find it in, I look down on my gaiters thinking should I or not? after all the crossing will be pretty early into the walk and I wouldn't want wet socks so early on, stubbornly I leave them behind, pah! extra weight I mutter, you haven't used them for at least two years, why change that now, anyway, find your best spot as always when crossing rivers and just go for it, I take my own, stubborn advise.

The car is locked as I take in the views along Wrynose Bottom back towards the top of the Pass taking note that a car hasn't passed me since arriving or during kit up, with this I walk along the centre of the road with only the Farmers Cows 'mooing' for company, minutes later a wooden stake is reached confirming the footpath for the Mosedale valley, and its start, is a muddy one.

As I venture further into the Mosedale valley it soon becomes apparent that I may have needed my gaiters after all as the ground underfoot is retaining water just beneath the valley head, my path runs straight into the bog where I am forced to negotiate lengthy detours before meeting back up with the path on the other side.

The head of Mosedale in now offering mouth watering views of the Scafells and I am struggling to put my camera down, ahead a sea of wild grasses in their Autumnal turn with lengthening dark shadows created by Lakeland giants, it's fair to say that I stayed fixed on this spot for a while if not only to study my route, but to also take it all in.

I couldn't but help be reminded of one of the last 'out and backs' from my two thousand footer campaign when myself and Rod Hepplewhite summited Cam Spout Crag from the top of the Scafell ridge, after collecting the summit we had to climb 700ft back onto ridge, a truly exhausting descent and re-ascent but great fun and even greater memories from my last walk within the challenge.

Time to stop day dreaming, Lingcove Beck won't cross itself.

I soon arrive at High Gait Crags summit, not before cross checking my position as two similar of height summits can be seen, the summit cairn confirms my position, there is no need to scramble nor climb, gaining High Gait Crags summit is done easily over grass before arriving at a small, but well put together stone cairn, the one thing that I had noted almost instantly was just how wide open the summit area actually is, up until now I had been shielded by outcrops or crags, now I am taking on the wind chill which causes me to take shelter behind a large outcrop before I de-shoulder and put my jacket on, the feeling of cold air on warm sweat presses against my skin but is soon forgotten about.

I venture out to the edge of the summit area where I scour the one end of Great Moss to the other looking for movement but spot nothing, beyond Great Moss up high on the Mickledore Ridge I spot three walkers heading in the direction of Scafell Pike and I wonder had they spotted me like I had them.

I exchanged grass for rock as I neared the summit of Esk Pike, finding no one there on arrival I check the time, it's close to midday which prompts me to think should the weather stay as it is, where else will I get shelter for lunch, despite not feeling too hungry I down pack once more and tuck into a cold chicken rice once the goo that had formed on my lips had been wiped away, I struggle to enjoy lunch, much less because I'm simply not hungry enough to eat it, in my lunch box I have also packed a Marathon Bar I force down which isn't like me at all.

Between the constant drip at the end of my nose, my gooey lips and no appetite at all I hope I'm not coming down with something, I lend myself to thinking it's the shock from the cold air!

The three walkers that I had spotted had now descended and were making the way towards Three Tarns meaning that I had the summit to myself, and that low cloud.

I pick my way over boulder remarking on the fact that despite numerous summits I never seem to choose the same route twice, the same applies today. By the time I reached the summit more cloud was heading my way which was now starting to partially obscure the Scafells, Esk Pike and Great End which were already below the cloud line yet despite this, I saw it as no threat just the way of the mountains, soon the cloud will clear but for now, I shall have to stick to my limited views.

The descent of Bowfell is dealt with swiftly as I pass more and more walkers heading towards the summit, on arriving at Three Tarns I am met by a large group of walkers who are delighted to have reached Three Tarns, non more so than the leader of the group who rather annoyingly picks out each Tarn by number.

After a quick photo I head out over the Crinkles, having still not decided do I summit each, or just do a mix of both, I think I'll just go where my legs take me.

I soon reached the col between Crinkle two and Crinkle one where I always tend to stop for a photo, on arrival at the Bad Step I meet two walkers struggling to find a route up, I didn't want to seem rude at first as I hinted they might try ascent from a little lower down as this can be done in four easy steps, the chap thanked me as I continued my ascent on Crinkle one.

Just in case you were wondering, there's no shame in admitting I didn't descend The Bad Step myself, those days are probably behind me now not being as bendy as I used to be, however should I have been traveling in the opposite direction as always, I would ascend Crinkle Crags summit by the Bad Step if the conditions are right.

Now thats that cleared up!

After the short pull onto Crinkle one my legs were just about starting to feel the burn of the ascent, I told them I hoped that they had gotten everything they had hoped for and maybe next time, i'll just go and do something normal, we'll just have to wait and see.

After leaving Crinkle one I head down steeply avoiding the main path, instead opting to break away to a grassy path on my right flank, this move will put me in good stead in order to reach my seventh summit of the day in Stonesty Pike.

After a rather arduous descent from Little Stand I was able to gather myself with outstanding views back towards the Scafells through the beautiful valley of Mosedale whose grasses were set alight in their Autumnal glory, by now the sun was still high but I could see that it was sinking much faster than that of late, within two hours the temperatures will have dropped and mother nature will say good night to the fells for another day, me I've still got to tramp through all those cow pats again thanks to those guys bringing my walking day to an end.