The Lakeland fells are still in the transition between Winter and Spring and even though the fells are almost snow free I wouldn't rule out more snow fall before Spring turns to Summer. Despite the dry weather we were experiencing the valleys are feeling very Spring like while above the summits as proved today, temperatures are still dipping below freezing which caught quite a few people out who'd chosen to walk in shorts and T-shirts where exposed skin turned red raw.

We'd originally planned to walk this walk yesterday (Saturday) but due to low cloud which was only forecast to clear in the afternoon we pushed the walk forward to Sunday. Haze cloaked much of Lakeland so thickly that from Heron Pike we could only just make out Steel Fell less than 3 miles away while Ullscarf beyond was lost in the thick of it so you could say up until lunchtime views were limited. Trapping the haze was a layer of high cloud which rose the humidity to the point we were looking forward to those cool forecasted summit winds.

Its been an incredible six years since I last walked the Fairfield Horseshoe and will count as one of many 'big walks' I'm planning this year and no amount of haze of lack of views could of spoilt such a classic walk.

I'd arranged to meet Rod at 08:00 from our starting point at Pelter Bridge car park just outside Rydal where I arrived a good half hour early. It was no biggie as I laced up I emptied more items I can do without from my pack in an attempt to lighten it due to carrying a 3ltr hydration bladder which I'd filled to the brim. I'm a firm believer of 'you can never have enough' hydration.

More cars arrived whose occupants wandered off towards Rydal Water followed by a LWB camper van who just about tried every parking spot on the car park but due its length it was gonna stick out wherever he left it. I emptied £8.00 into the parking meter for a full days parking before Rod arrived and parked next to my car. Despite the A591 being just beyond you could still hear the River Rothay coupled with bird song, a perfect setting as we kitted up. Rod emptied his £8.00 into the meter before leaving the car park, crossed over the cattle grid and crossed Pelter Bridge onto the A591. Here at valley level the haze wasn't really apparent, in fact it was very mild soon agreeing that it wasn't going to be a day for the camera.

The humidity was creeping up and with little to no wind I was already starting to sweat. The ground levelled slightly where we took in the view over Rydal Water towards Loughrigg Fell again where I took a few moments to see if I could see anyone on the fell or Loughrigg Terrace sighting no one.

Only the odd car or bike passed on the A591 which was only to be expected given the hour. The couple we'd seen earlier were by now scaling Heron Pike as we took in a momentary view of Alcock Tarn below Nab Scar's summit.

We left Nab Scar behind and took in the slight ascent towards Heron Pike where we were passed by an elderly (but very fit) 72 year old gent from Kendal who told us he had lost his wife last year and ever since had walked almost everyday which left Rod and I feeling very humbled only sparking up conversation again once Heron Pike summit was reached.

The chap seen in the photo had been talking to the couple ahead of us and still had his head buried in his map as we passed.

Two lads who joined the ridge from Stone Arthur reached the summit first and were 'summit hogging' by the time we arrived so we continued on with Rod taking in the view over Cofa Pike while I sat down and gawked down on the incredible rock scenery. Rod soon joined me and from the summit ledge we could both hear what sounded like a Shepherd directly below corralling sheep, trouble was we were buggered if we could see him or the sheep for that matter. Soon Rod spotted three sheep crossing a beck far below followed by a sheep dog (which Rod could only confirm by using the zoom on his camera) more sheep followed with more shouting but through want of trying, we couldn't spot the Shepherd!

A great few moments spent trying though.

We crested the shoulder then took in the rock strewn summit before agreeing on a place out of the wind to lunch, with that found we tucked into our scran while taking in the view towards a distant Fairfield.

Footnote: It might be an early lunch but it's been over 5hrs since I had those two banana's for breakfast.

We dropped down from the hall and headed through the gate and Rydal Mount thereafter. A solo walker who I'd spotted on Hart Crag hours earlier had been tailing us all the way back to Rydal but turned right and we wondered of his route, perhaps he was heading back to Grasmere via the Coffin Route, either way he still had some walking to do. By now the A591 was busier than ever and we had to wait before we crossed the road before arriving at a very busy Pelter Bridge car park where the ice cream van was doing lucrative business.

Unlike the quietness of the morning the air was filled with hustle and exhaust fumes from folk wanting to park on the car park causing no end of frustrations by blocking both the entrance and exit to the car park. I could go on about how the frustrations brought on by the next ten minutes which if let, could have had potential to spoil the end of the walk but I'm not going to end my report that way. I'm going to end my report with the enjoyment I took from spending six hours plus on the fell experiencing both windchill and sunshine while enjoying one of the finest horseshoe's Lakeland has to offer and to end my report I'm going back to those few moments spent looking into the broken silence of the Deepdale valley looking for a mystery Shepherd.