After working yesterday morning I followed the best forecast for Sunday finding the northern region of the district would see the best of the sunshine after really looking forward to an ascent of Fairfield via Little Tongue, a route that can wait in the wings for the forecast it deserves.

Following the Lakeland forecast even in Summer has its highs and lows and today I was dealt with something in between. The plan was to ascend Blencathra via one of Lakelands best ridge routes, the Hall's Fell ridge then descend from the summit via a route I have never walked before, the Gategill Fell ridge and Knott Halloo, the steepest of Blencathra's ridges by far.

Despite being on the cusp of Autumn it was mild enough to start the walk wearing just a thin base layer although any brightness I experienced at ground level was replaced by cloud around the half way mark on Hall's Fell ridge. Then came the reminder that Autumn is just around the corner experiencing summit cross winds and wind chill. Locating the descent path onto the Gategill Fell ridge proved a tad difficult given the near zero visibility but once found it was plain sailing all the way to Knott Halloo.

Despite arriving half an hour earlier I struggled to park at my 'usual place' alongside Threlkeld Church not helped by a set of temporary traffic lights set up just outside the church, I waited for the lights to turn green before spotting a space which I reversed parked in to. I parked up knowing that there was low cloud over Blencathra's summit I was in no rush to kit up which on a morning as mild as today comprised of lacing up my boots and throwing my pack over my shoulder. Todays walk has a good deal of descent and because of this I opt for a battered looking pair of Leki walking poles whose handles are in my opinion the best pole out there when enduring tough descent.

With my car locked I passed through the village passing the Horse and Farrier whose car park was busy with cyclists about to set off. I joined Fell Side road where the Hall's Fell Ridge came into view which was still topped with cloud "if this brightness continues" I thought "the sun should burn the cloud away" I turned left onto the dusty farm track bound for Gategill Farm and passed the construction entrance where an old culvert is being replaced and diverted on behalf of the Environment Agency. Gategill Farm looked just as it did the first time I saw it over ten years ago and long may it continue.

The couple who were ahead of me were nowhere to be seen as I crested the summit spotting two Red Robins who flew away as I approached. The summit felt like a very different place from the ridge which had been mild for much of the ascent, only now any ripples of sweat were quickly drying up due to a freezing cross wind.

A family appeared from the east and we nodded as a way of greeting "time for a birthday selfie" one of the sons asked before all the family huddled around the circular trig point and within seconds the phone was packed away before leaving for a descent of Hall's Fell ridge. It was just me and the summit again but with just thirty feet of visibility and a piercing wind I tapped the circular trig with the tip of my walking and left in the direction of Gategill Fell top.

I soon reached Gategill Fell top and looked down into a void of nothing, my view was of steep crags and if that was the way down given todays conditions I would alter my descent for one of Blease Fell instead. I left the face of the summit and walked back where it was less windier, my research told me there was a path here I just needed to locate it so out came the map which was when I realised the path was located about 30 yards east of the summit.

Spotting the path I started my descent first very steeply where the path zigzagged in short sections before running west below the crags I'd been looking down on from the summit,

Passing walkers heading towards Gate Gill I slowed my pace not really wanting this short, but exhilarating walk to come to an end. Sighting a group of walkers on the lower section of the Hall's Fell Ridge which by now was ablaze in hot afternoon sunshine.

The cloud had completely cleared with wide vistas of blue from above yet just over an hour early you'd have struggled to see the end of your nose while contemplating at the beginning of September would I be laughed at for adding a pair of gloves.