I think it's fair to say that I definitely have some favourite lakeland walks, and for reasons that spur me to return to them time and time again. The ascent of Fairfield from Grasmere via Stone Arthur is one of my favourite ascents in Lakeland.

After all these years, it's a route that still feels new, which is why I like to do this walk so much during different seasons of the year. I was supposed to be walking today, but about 24 hours earlier, an ascent of Fairfield sprang to mind, and I set about thinking of all the different routes I could take.

I didn't have enough time to take on the Fairfield or Deepdale Horseshoe(s), so that's when I began to narrow things down a bit. Ascent via The Tongue is another great route and one I keep saying I'm going to return to too, but that's for another day. I don't know why I was thinking of all these other ascents when I knew I could save myself all the energy and return to this classic six-miler from Grasmere.

Heavy rain hitting the bedroom windows woke me an hour before my alarm was set to go off, and as a result, I was up and ready by the time my alarm actually went off at 5:30am. It had stopped raining as I packed my gear into the back of my car, and I could even see hints of blue sky between the grey. The further north I drove, the clearer the skies became, eventually arriving in Grasmere two hours later under blue skies and mild temperatures.

Given that it's a weekday, I figured I wouldn't have any issues parking, and I was right parking in the dead centre of the long layby where I was soon joined by two other cars, one of whose occupants began to kit up before the driver's door had time to shut, and the other, for some reason, waited in his car a good few spaces before me. Kitted up I crossed the A591 then stopped to take this photo as I walked towards the afluent Michaels Nook where I will begin my climb alongside Greenhead Gill.

I had somehow managed to overtake the two walkers I'd seen on Great Rigg earlier before reaching Fairfield summit, where I was treated to a blast of chilled wind that was so cold it almost had me reaching for my hat and gloves within minutes of arrival. I don't often spend time at summits, with the exception of Fairfield where I like to explore, but the sudden change in temperature chilled my hands and ears to the point my teeth started to chatter.

I was of course fully equipped to deal with the cold, but given how gloomy the summit now looked, I crossed the rock-strewn plateau and began my descent towards Grisedale Hause.

Enjoying the views along the Grisedale valley while relishing the sudden breaks of sunshine, I began my descent from Fairfield taking my time descending the upper zigzags, which seem to be getting more eroded with each visit. From the direction of Tongue Gill (left) I spot two groups of four walkers and a solo walker ahead of both groups.

As I passed over Grisedale Hause I met the solo walker, a young girl who gave me a cheerful 'hi' before checking her map before taking the narrow path below Seat Sandal along the shores of Grisedale Tarn.

Without thinking, I began the steep ascent on Seat Sandal opting to take the path right of the wall rather than the direct route, which is heavily eroded. The path looks nowhere near as steep as it actually is, and I could feel my legs kick back and knock it down a gear. 

The path comes back in line with the wall and, although still steep, is much more manageable. By now I was just about to lose sight of the solo girl who had taken refuge on a large boulder overlooking the tarn.

From summit to base, I was only passed by one couple who muttered something about how easy it was to descend the south ridge, and I muttered something back agreeing. After I had passed the couple, I had the ridge to myself, and when I could, I took in the fantastic view of Cotra Breast which despite just being across the way, was still enjoying bright sunshine. Earlier, I had spotted a tractor cutting the heather back on the lower section of the ridge which helps to reduce the dominance of the bracken for up to three years. I passed through the gate and looked back on Tongue Gill which was dappled in sunlight just here and there. Continuing through a laberynth of stone walls, I soon joined the footpath until the A591 was reached. Turning left, I passed over Tongue Gill which equaled Greenhead Gill in spate.

I passed The Travellers Rest whose outdoor seating was begining to fill up with folk enjoying posh latte's and brunch. I could still hear water in spate from the fell side as I continued to walk along the A591 glancing up at Helm Crag whose lower bracken covered flanks glistened in the sunshine while its upper reaches were in shade. Stone Arthur came into view, which is a view you don't often appreciate as its summit blends into the fell side, but if you know where to look, Stone Arthur is as grand a summit as any of its neighbours.