I worked last Saturday, which was just as well as the forecast was for another weekend of low cloud, mist, and gloom. That said, I did manage to walk an unrecorded, eight mile tour of Winter Hill in light so poor it wasn't worth getting my camera out, but still, it was nice to get out in the fresh air. 

This Saturday looked much the same, with low cloud, showers, and intermittent sunshine forecast. The trio has some great walks planned, but given the poor forecast, we're having to stick below the cloud cover until Spring decides to finally arrive.

It had rained all week, and as a result, the ground is saturated and rivers are swollen, so today's walk strays as much as possible from any swollen ground, which worked out well with the exception of how wet the descent through Rigghead Quarry was.

The Cat Bells to High Spy Ridge is one of the best walks Lakeland has to offer, where we were treated to warm sunshine, bursts of rain while being surrounded by swirling cloud. 

Not only had it rained all week, but it had been windy, especially across the summits, where wind speeds up to 65mph had been recorded on Helvellyn by the Fell Top Assessor. It was raining when I left home, which continued throughout my drive north, subsiding slightly as I reached Keswick. We had arranged to meet at Gutherscale at 8:15am. David was already there when I arrived around 8:00am, soon followed by Rod a few minutes later, leaving just one space, which was taken up by two girls and their West Highland White Terrier.

Even though it wasn't raining, there was a squawly feel to the morning air, topped up by a light wind and brooding skies, it felt like it was about to rain at any given minute. We decided with waterproof over trousers from the off and left Gutherscale for the fell side and soon we were treated to our first view of Derwent Water and a cloud topped Skiddaw and Blencathra.

After crossing the ridge, we began the ascent towards the summit, each taking our own line enjoying the odd scramble over wet rock. My usual line of ascent would be to head left just below the summit, but the path has been fenced off due to erosion, forcing every walker to make a direct ascent over wet rock.

We soon arrived at the summit, finding a young couple who we'd spotted earlier having a discussion about the best way back down, Rod advised to continue towards Hause Gate then descend via the terrace path.

We crossed a saturated Hause Gate then began the steady ascent on Maiden Moor which David thinks always takes longer than it looks, and he'd be correct. We had passed a trio who had ascended from Little Town, and 'mornings' were shared as we continued our ascent before taking a quick break at the viewing cairn. 

By now, more walkers had joined the path, and upon reaching the viewing cairn, all stopped for a few minutes before taking the left path across Narrow Moor. The actual summit of Maiden Moor is reached by following the path to the right, not far from where Bull Crag is located on the map.

Our descent was slowed by the constant rain, not helped by one particular section of descent over rock that slowed us down to a crawl, adding to this was the path, which for the most part, was flowing like a stream. Half the way down Tongue Gill, we came across three guys repairing the path, who we assumed were Fix the Fells. After trying to avoid the working area, we were asked to pass through it rather than "take the risk with the wet grass" We thanked him, but it just seemed like a very 'risk assessment' thing to ask us. 

We continued our descent and crossed Tongue Gill via a series of heavily submerged stepping stones, which gave the boots a good swilling, not like they needed it mind. On firmer ground now, still swollen and flowing like a stream, we watched a shower pass through Borrowdale narrowly avoiding us, but I don't think we could have got any wetter if we'd tried.

Shortly after passing through Manesty we joined the terrace path, which required a two hundred foot steady slog right about the time my leg muscles were getting used to the smooth tarmac. We took in the ascent and only stopped when the terrace path levelled behind woodland. Hoards of people were ascending and descending Cat Bells now those in descent continuing towards the road below. The sun came out and it felt Spring like but we were too close to the cars to start shedding layers now.

We were soon to be overtaken by a young girl who we first sighted descending Nitting Haws her pink jacket was too distinctive to miss. Blimey this girl had some wind in her sails, was fully equiped, and knew the area like the back of her hand. I really admired that. We began the last descent back to Gutherscale and joined the narrow road linking it with Grange. There were people everywhere, some day trippers and others regular walkers just like us. We walked the final few yards back to the parking spaces, the tarmac underfoot, pot-holed and flowing with water "This road floods in drought," one of us joked, ahh tha not wrong theer we laughed.