Despite Storm Malik battering the northern regions after two weeks away I was desperate to get back to Lakeland, trouble was due to commitments this evening I didn't have much time to do it in.

My initial plan was to scratch the itch that was Black Sails and Wetherlam, a walk that I had to abandon on two separate occasions but with winds predicted to reach over 100mph over the summits I again, will have to put that walk on the back burner.

Something low level was required so I planned to walk Silver How to Blea Rigg via the Raw Pike ridge from Grasmere but as you are about to read the wind even at 1,200ft was so strong I couldn't even make the summit so I turned heel and during my descent came up with this gem of a route.

Debris from fallen branches littered the A591 while Windermere with its white capped waves could have been mistaken for the north sea as spray peppered the traffic travelling towards Ambleside "it's going to be one of those kind of days is it" I muttered to myself. Despite the forecast there was only two parking spaces left at the layby as I eased the car into one of them. Before I started my kit up I spent a few moments listening to the wind which even to the seasoned fell walker sounded quite intimitdating. The car gently rocked as I took one last look out of the windscreen then opened my door which nearly flew of its hinges.

I walked to the rear and lifted up the tailgate which I'm sure would have acted like a sail had the handbrake not been applied. The forecast had prediced the wind at valley level to be around 40mph then to strengthen to 60 mph at 1,200ft so it was crucial nothing was forgotten which proved difficult while being distracted by my tailgate bucking in the wind. After one final sweep of the boot I closed the tailgate, locked the car and threw my pack over my shoulder and clipped it in tightly.

With Grasmere disappearing behind me I took the walled lane and climbed steeply towards Kelbarrow passing two large walking groups while doing so. These groups had a few small children with them and I wondered of their routes, hopefully they weren't aiming too high.

More showers arrived some more prolonged than others leaving some stunning rainbows. This photo was taken after the last shower had passed, you wouldn't believe just five minutes ago it was wet, grey and murky would you.

Cocooned with the groove the wind died down and for the first time this morning I could hear myself think. The higher I got however, the wind returned and I one point I was knocked off balance causing me to fall forward but I think I got away with the chap not seeing me. When we passed we stopped to chat and as expected present conditions was the first topic of conversation "where you heading?" the guy asked "Silver How and Blea Rigg" I replied the chap smiled "no you're not, you physically cannot stand beyond the col ahead "as bad as that" I replied.

As it turns out this chap was from Windermere and I'm not sure how or why but he told me he'd completed the Wainwrights 15 times, the Birketts and the Synges. He was of senior age and there was no reason to doubt him. After watching a curtain of rain fall over Loughrigg Fell we looked down only to spot the family I'd passed earlier at the base of the groove "best tell them not to bother" he said "aye" I agreed.

Two cairns fifty meters apart steered over the col where I was met with a ferocious gust so strong it was impossible to stand so I let bent down, fought with my camera and took this one shot. The roar of the wind was deafening and certainly intimidating, there was no way I was summiting Silver How never mind walking the ridge towards Blea Rigg.

Time to head back down.

I left the col and turned heel and within minutes I was out of the firing zone. Down below I could see the chap had talked the family out of an ascent who by now were descending towards Grasmere lake. However, two more couples were ascending one of which weren't equipped for the fells, we struck up conversation close to the col where I advised them not to summit "we'll go as far as we can then turn around" the guy said "be careful" I replied. They left and a few minutes later I turned around to see the guy helping his girlfriend back to her feet, they continued towards where I had been stood before the wind took her again. I hung on a few minutes more to see them re-tracing towards me.

The second couple were more equipped and didn't bother to ask what the conditions were like, I guess they'd find out the hard way.

The chap I'd spoken to earlier was also parked at the layby where he got talking to two lads who were heading up Fairfield, he told me he gave me them the same "no you're not" advice as he gave me!

I had to think of a plan B coming up with a toss up between Easdale Tarn from Grasmere or a circuit of Grasmere and Rydal Water returning via the Rydal Coffin Route, the latter won as gaining even the lowest of elevations was dicing with death.

I followed the stone wall then dropped through the Wyke Plantation just in time for another shower. Despite the deafening roar ripping through the canopy overhead through gaps in the trees I could see sections of the Lake turn pure white just as it would if a helicopter was hovering over it.

After joining the lake road I walked with the masses through more showers until I arrived at the footpath linking the road with the shore path.

I strike right and followed the one way passing the Herdy shop before turning right onto Broadgate at Sam Reads book shop. The skies darkened and for the first time today I was walking into the wind for the last half mile right as it started to rain, it'll soon stop just like all the other showers had but this wasn't a shower. With the winds easing the rain fell vertically sending the mums and dads on the play ground running for cover. I had seen Helm Crag set against a blue sky not five minutes earlier, now I could only see the faint outline behind a curtain of rain.