I wasn't supposed to be walking this weekend due to family commitments which changed at the very last minute. David had wild camped over Thursday and Friday on Kentmere Pike and Rod was planning a trip either on the Langdale Pikes or this walk, the Deepdale Horseshoe so I emailed Rod on Thursday evening asking would he mind I jump on board.

Rod was undecided whether to continue onto Arnison Crag after summiting St Sunday and Birks but I managed to persuade him to drop back into Deepdale via Gavel Pike and Lord's Seat which had been on my 'to do list' for a while and was great to include a never included descent into the walk after a rather mixed day on the fells which at one point saw us take a true Lakeland soaking only to have to remove layers later into the walk because it was too hot.

I've been toying with the idea to use my mobile phone to take pictures when the weather is unsettled because the low light really does have an adverse affect when using my Nikon DSLR, yes I can change the light settings but I don't really want to be worrying about image quality when I'd rather be enjoying the walk so today with rain in the air from the off I switched between my DSLR and mobile phone then once the rain got heavier I packed my DSLR away and ended up using my mobile for picture taking for the majority of the walk.

The morning hadn't been gifted with the best forecast confirmed by the low cloud which hovered just over the top of Kirkstone Pass as I made my way towards Deepdale Bridge but with that said, chinks of blue sky were appearing from the west which showed promise. We had arranged to meet at 08:15 and I arrived with plenty of time to spare and parked at the parking spaces next to the Deepdale Bridge.

Rod soon followed and parked in front of me before we started to kit up under brooding skies which looked like they could unleash a torrent of rain at any minute. With the cars locked we passed over the style and walked through a field full of sheep towards a second gate bound for the Hartsop above How ridge.

Rod and I were plodding along negotiating the boggy bits and generally taking things easy which meant the two walkers who we had seen behind us started to gain ground and before we knew we were over took before one of the walkers recognised me and asked "are you Paul Sharkey?"

We went on to share our routes and had a short chat before they left for Hartsop above How. I'm sorry if I didn't get your name but if your reading this I'd like to tell you our chance meeting made my day.

More walkers were passed some of whom appeared to have spent the night judging by their laden packs but despite the near zero visibility, the wind and rain, all were in good spirits.

I couldn't but help feel slightly disappointed knowing in just a few hours time clearer weather was on its way while right now Rod and I were struggling to feel the ends of our fingers!

We left Fairfield summit and tracked northwards carefully following the path which would descend us onto Cofa Pike. In the mist the path was vague but we managed to keep to it and took in the rock descent before picking up the path Cofa Pike bound. I was a little concerned whether we'd encounter wet rock during our descent but oddly, we found the rock dry underfoot.

It was time to de-layer again which we did at the summit cairn on Lord's Seat under a hot aftrenoon sun before continuing our descent back to Deepdale via the flanks of Coldcove Gill. We hadn't seen anyone since leaving St Sunday Crag, that was until I spotted a van being driven towards Wall End Farm which brought me back to reality. Reaching the farm track felt good where I kicked my feet into the backs of my boots before leaving Deepdale via the Clapper Bridge for Lane End where we swung a right and followed the walled track back to Deepdale Bridge.

It was much busier back at Deepdale Bridge with cars extending from the parking spaces onto the grass verges most of whom's occupants are setting off late while taking advantage of the bright afternoon forecast. I'm partial to the Summer sunshine which at times makes me feel like a solar panel but you know what, no amount of sunshine makes you feel grittier than heading onto the high fells when it's lashing it down.