I thought I'd kick off the Easter weekend with three Outlying walks which are spread out over the north and western areas of Lakeland before I join David, Tim and Rod tomorrow on a rather epic ascent of Fairfield via the Deepdale Valley.

Todays first Outlying walk is Watch Hill which has a starting point just outside Cockermouth on the former A66. As always I will be following Wainwrights original route which is kept quite simple by returning via the same path after visiting Setmurthy Common found just over half a mile further on along Watch Hill's smooth grassy plateau.

This walk, and walks like it show exactly what the Lake District has to offer, to many it maybe just a local dog walk after work when on a clear day the views from the summit of Watch Hill open out over miles of farmland in one direction, towns and villages in the other and the frontiers of Lakeland with the Skiddaw Group, the Lord's Seat and Loweswater Fells occupying the views.

It didn't really matter that I didn't have the views today, after all, that's not all Watch Hill has to offer.

There are two laybys close to Cockermouth School the first one being at a junction which I found full with cars which had bike racks attached, further down the road another smaller layby is located closer to the school where the 30mph zone begins.

I track back around 50 yards and locate a metal gate/bridleway which is sign posted Isel Bridge from where the walk officially starts.

It's Lambing season and the Ewes weren't too happy with me passing through this morning, I keep a wide berth at all times which didn't seem to help to control tempers while passing through the first field.

Incidently, in the background is the metal gate onto the Higham Road and you can just about make out the two 30mph signs too which is where I left my car and that's Cockermouth over in the right.

Well that was a fantastic morning spent walking over sprawling countryside accompanied by new born Lambs in an area of Lakeland that I have never visited before. I may not of had the views that I wanted but that didn't seem to matter when surrounded by the bleating Lambs.

It's now time to head over to my next walk which is Cold Fell found just off the aptly named Cold Fell Road which is around seventeen miles away and should take me around half an hour to reach and it looks like amy car is pointing in the right direction.