It hadn't been the best of weeks since I turned my right ankle quite severely last weekend which saw my ankle swell and bruise to a point when I had to take a day off work come midweek, nevertheless I persevered with the ice-packs mostly in the evenings after work and kept up with the anti-inflammatory tablets which by Friday saw my ankle reduce in swelling and even the bruising started to fade.

I didn't have any option other than to rest when I could but this type of injury required both rest and use which I kept up with regular dog walks after work. By Saturday the limp had gone and that afternoon I treated the dogs to a four miler, it was only during the last mile did I get that dull ache normally associated with this type of injury but overall I was getting more and more satisfied in how after a relative short period of time the injury was improving.

I was in work during the Saturday morning and I planned some R&R for the afternoon which I also spent trying to convince myself that I might try to get out on not just a short walk, but to see if I could complete a project walk, of course my aim as always to complete any walk that I set out to do but not this one...I really had to hold back and take my time which was exactly what I did. Some may say I was foolish to get straight back into such a tough route, but me, I knew the call I had made, I called it soldieuring on.

This is a St Johns-in-the-Vale Circuit.

With the promise of another fine day In Lakeland I arrived in Wanthwaite under cloudless skies with a bright sun bearing down on me, it was early but the sun was already warm yet the forecast for today had predicted the temperatures to rise into the mid twenties whilst heavy showers weren't to be ruled out. I hydrate myself by finishing off a litre of water coupled with the three that I have in my Camelbak but there's always that 'do I have enough' feeling after getting dehydrated some years ago, an experience while out on the fells I don't ever wish to repeat.

There isn't a breath of wind and the thoughts of any showers are put to the back of my mind, I lace up giving the laces, especially on my right boot a firm tug making sure the tongue is neatly tucked into place, this foot today is getting the presidential treatment, if it has to look after me, and I have to look after it. I couldn't help but notice the bright yellow buttercups which turned the pastures into seas of wild yellow, a beautiful summers contrast when set against a blue morning sky. With my boot locked I head out past the familiar sign post that had been lovingly painted in black and white, a feature to Wanthwaite as the red phone box is to Loweswater.

After passing the sign post I head left onto the Old Coach Road before passing Hill Top Farm, here the ground underfoot is rough with some rocks the size of your fist that line the track more so in the middle where the farm machinery has compressed them into the ground. I keep left then swap right, whichever is the best side to walk to introduce my ankle back to rough ground, is this really what it comes to Paul? by eck lad.

Yes of course I was thinking what I am doing but each step gave me confidence and before I knew it I wasn't looking down at the ground but ahead where I had to cross a wooden sty. The sty soon came into view and I eased myself over without incident, ahead, a steep ascent is required before reaching the disused quarry.

Feeling more confident with each step I topped out onto the old quarry track before passing the site of the quarry. Despite gaining Clough Head many times I can only recall ascending from Wanthwaite maybe just the once or twice and this was some years ago, nevertheless it all came back to me and I remembered reading the serial numbers from the old farm machinery that has been left to rot in and around the quarry, the old machinery may look like junk but I like to look at the serial plates if only to see how old the are, some of which dated back to the 1940's.

I don't spend too long getting nostalgic though because there's another steep ascent required, here the quarry has been dug into the fell side and excavations have left the quarry with almost vertical sides in the shape of a horseshoe, from memory if I pass the quarry and ascend via a plantation to the right - a singular path will see me through onto open fell side.

The sun hadn't quite breached Clough Head but it's light was starting to seep through from the east and soon I would be ascending head long into a morning sunrise. I was feeling more than pleased with my ankles performance, so much so I had to tell someone so I text my wife 'ankle fairing well up to now' what I didn't include was just how steep the ascent of Wanthwaite Bank which saw me ouse sweat like I have never sweated before, the morning air was extremely muggy and with no wind I was at times left gasping for just a breath of wind to cool me down, it will come but not just yet.

My path will follow the grassy terrace in the foreground before veering left into the shade, an area of Clough Head known as Red Screes. From here I will ascend steeply onto the ridge before following a singular path that traces across the face of the crags seen in the photo, It had completely escaped me just how fantastic this ascent is, well, now that most of the hard work is behind me that is.

After picking my way across the face of the crags I topped out onto Clough Head grassy west ridge by which time It felt like I had lost a stone in sweat alone. I was greeted by a drifting summit wind which didn't do much in the way of cooling me down but it was better than none at all I guess. From the my position I have a 600 yard haul over hummocky grass before I reach the summit and today the fell side is littered with grass flies which I disturb as I pass through, they buzz around me in their thousands and at one point I have to close my mouth through fear of swallowing them, every now and again I stop to rub my arms and legs free of the critters and thank my stars the buggers don't have teeth!

With the summit reached I place my walking poles beside the Trig Point and set about getting myself together, I de-shoulder and I get an instant cool down as the sweat on my back is exposed to the breeze. My baseball cap comes off which gets placed on the ground alongside my sunglasses which has a coating of sweat across the top of the rims, what I need right now is a beer and a cold shower, what I make do with is my Berghaus fleece which I use to erm, dampen me down...that'll have to get thrown in the wash but for now, it'll do.

From no-where a dog pants by quickly followed by two fell runners just wearing shorts and the shoes on their feet as a fleeting 'morning' is passed before they head down the ridge towards Great Dodd.

Which is were I'm heading next right after I collect my walking poles.

The first descent of the day was dealt with cautiously as I make my way across the ridge that usually, even during the summer months can get quite boggy, yet today after days without rain and the continuous hot weather the bogs had dried up leaving them looking cracked and weathered, a good sign that summer is well and truly here.

I gained the summit Great Dodd with a steady march feeling quite confident underfoot all under the cover of cloud which helped with any overheating issues. I arrived at the summit still in low light and gave the stone cairn a tap from my walking pole. I have a wander over to the edge of the summit with hopes of seeing the Randerside Ridge which extends into Matterdale but views are hampered once again by a mix of low light, haze and fleeting cloud, there is a noticeable temperature drop driven by the summit winds for which I'm thankful for.

I don't spend much time at the summit and then wander past the stone shelter as the Watson's Dodd ridge slowly begins to unfold in front of me, up ahead I can see the sun shinning through the gaps in a large black cloud and any moment now that cloud will hopefully pass revealing...

I continued along the ridge leaving the wide grassy path in favour of the singular path that lead gently towards Watson's Dodd summit cairn. I was feeling quite surprised that on a day like today I had only seen the two fell runners but in the same breath I wasn't complaining that I'd had the last three summits to myself.

Next, it's another short ridge crossing before taking the steady path towards Stybarrow Dodd summit.

By the time I reached Stybarrow Dodd summit cairn the light had faded once more due to a covering of cloud that started to fill the skies overhead, previously I had checked the local weather which had forecasted heavy downpours from lunch time onwards and I guess the cloud build up was the start of things to come.

I leave the summit cairn and wander towards the edge once more taking in the views of Deepdale, a valley that I had only had the pleasure of walking through once on the cusp of Autumn, If I recall it was the last weekend I wore shorts for that year.

Good times.

Stybarrow Dodd was the point that I left the comfort of grass underfoot behind in favour of a stone track, some of which would be rough in between Sticks Pass and White Side, I wont lie if I said that this particular section of the walk didn't lay heavy on the mind as it is steep and rough in sections.

Slow and steady it is.

I had been passed by a woman fell runner as I crossed the top of Sticks Pass and 'mornings' are shared, I found it a little unusual that she was shouldering a large pack, perhaps 45ltrs which swayed as she ran, nevertheless I could only look on thinking how can anyone run in this heat and also carry a large pack while doing so.

Ahead however, the heat must have eventually got the best of her as she slows to a walking pace and with hands on hips, she crests the summit and disappears out of view. I tramp on taking advantage of the grass verge which ran out close to the summit from where, a dusty rocky track provides the last eighty yards or so.

It was here came a point; although still very conscious of my ankle did I start to forget about it if that makes any kind of sense, with no pain, no pressure and no uneasiness I made my towards the summit cairn right about the same time the sun came back out.

As I made my way across the top of Keppel Cove Helvellyn came into view along with Swirral Edge and Stridng Edge, it's been close to twelve months since I was last at Helvellyn's summit and I'm starting to get itchy feet about making a return.

After a steady push I soon arrived at White Side summit cairn not before studying my descent via Brund Gill as I traversed the Col. A route that was new to me and that I was very much looking forward to descending. From the summit cairn I turn my back on Helvellyn and head north east, here the ground is made up of rock and grass and reminds me very much of the summit of Nethermost Pike.

A faint grassy path below the rocky summit steers towards Brown Crag, there are only traces of trods towards the direction of Brund Gill, a path, or even a consistent trod would be handy as I take advantage as best I can of the lay of the land which was sometimes difficult when descending steadily over steep grassy bank.

After lunch I re-shouldered and began my descent towards Fishergill flanked by both sides of the path by bracken which was starting to grow quite thick in places at times already begining to take over the narrow footpath. The closer I got to Fishergill I came across signs that the path had been washed away with rubble and boulders strewn across the path, ahead repair work to a new path on the other side of Fishergill had begun which looked inviting to use, however due to the many red triangular warning boards I didn't venture too near just in case they read 'out of use'

My next plan was to follow the Aqueduct back to Stanah from where I would cross St John's Beck before gaining my last summit of the day in High Rigg, but, this was not to be the case as the footpath along the Aqueduct was closed off due to last December's storms which meant I had to make my way along a bustling A591 instead.

No Bother.

I don't mind admitting that the path from Brown Crag to Fishergill was quite steep and extra care was taken during descent. With Fishergill now behind me I could concentrate on High Rigg as I strolled along the A591. I suppose this photo doesn't show just how busy the road was with cars vans and road bikes all taking advantage of the newly opened A591 which I thought was great to see especially with the revenue the tourists bring after such a bad winter.

As I pass through Stanah a Road Bike Peloton are having road side checks carried out at a make shift service area, it seemed quite chaotic watching them as I passed but I still managed to get a few hi's in the process.

Most of my project walks usually involve a lonely, and not so lofty summit at the end of the walk and todays route was no different, I was quite pleased I didn't see too many people during the ascent as the air by now was so still and muggy It left me feeling breathless at times.

If the forecast is correct however, around about now some heavy downpours are due, I just hope they can wait until I'm on route back to the car first because it sure is starting to get grey above my head.