After last weekends washout the Summer weather has returned this week with a vengeance tipping the mercury into the late twenties on a day which may go down as the hottest of the year. You've guessed it I'm walking from my lock down 'to do list' again yet strictly speaking this walk has been on my radar for about four years, I'd just never got around to doing despite it sitting in the top five of my list waiting for me to cross a line through it, today I did just that.

The main feature of the walk is the ascent of Cam Spout Crag from Great Moss which is gained via the truly spectacular Cam Spout Crag north ridge first ascending alongside Cam Spout falls. Cam Spout north ridge is 600ft of steep rock and grass ledges where once the ridge is gained proper there really isn't any exposure unless the climber veers too far left to take in the views of Great Moss below. An ascent in bad visibility would not be advised. The views of Sca Fell, Scafell Pike, Broad Stand, Mickledore and Pen are truly outstanding perhaps the best without actually setting foot on them but be prepared for a tough climb, after all this is England's highest ground.

Before leaving I scribble the coordinates NY 207 046 on my left hand which is the grid position for the exact spot I need to leave the path during my Slight Side descent before traversing below Horn Crag which will lead me out above Great Moss, it's a traverse I used last year when I walked the Eskdale Horseshoe. With my car locked and keys packed away I head back up the pass towards Hard Knott Roman Fort and just minutes into the walk I start to get a sweat on, it's going to be a tough day so the key to getting around the blistering heat is to pace myself.

The higher summits from left to right are Scafell Pike, Broad Crag, III Crag, Great End and Esk Pike but you already knew that.

The two paddlers crossed first followed by the two walkers from Mosedale then me who stopped half the way across to fill my water bottle not before pouring the contents over my head first before filling it again then realising I had a slight problem. Lingcove Beck looked gleaming but left an irony aftertaste. From here on in I shall have to ration what's left of my 3ltr bladder pack and use the contents of the water bottle for swilling, dousing and spitting out only.

Down below one of the young couples who had just ascended Cam Spout Falls seemed to be struggling with the heat too, the girl was lagging behind until her boyfriend went back for her, said something before both continuing then she stopped again and they both turned back but whatever her boyfriend said to her he managed to persuade her to turn around and keep going. It isn't for me to say but I'm not sure in this heat he should have been so convincing as she was clearly struggling.

I hope they both made it up afterwards after all we walk to forget lifes worries.

In the end I didn't end up using my map and compass to locate the point where I was meant to exit the path and did it by eye instead. I was slightly higher than anticipated but that was easily corrected by descending further until I met a sheep trod which lead me towards the low point in the foreground.

I was expecting chaos at Jubilee Bridge but it was peacefully serene where after easing myself down on one of the boulders in front of my car I unlaced my boots leaving pockets of dust in the air while being watched by a chap dozing behind the wheel of his car. I'd already set my air conditioning to full blast but it had little effect in cooling me down, I was cooling down it just didn't feel that way. The cars outside temperature was recording 33°C which after a few minutes settled at 27°C It still felt like an oven inside my car and not since the ascent of Cam Spout did beads of sweat trickle down my neck and forehead. Even though I had changed into a pair of North Face mids my feet still ached and no amount of toe curling inside the shoe eased off the pressure. Slowly I could feel my heart rate returning to normal and I began to take in my surroundings where despite this heaving, overheating wreck Jubilee Bridge remained as peaceful as I had left it this morning.

I think I can spare a few more minutes before it's time to leave.