Due to various reasons, the trio couldn't walk this weekend; in fact, I was unsure if I was going to walk at all due to the mixed weather conditions and a get-together with my brother and his wife on Saturday afternoon, which always tends to last into the early hours. Luckily, my brother was still feeling the effects of a previous day's BBQ which meant he wasn't up for two late nights on the bounce and had retired by early evening. 

The initial plan was to head to the Lakes for lunchtime. Around the sametime, the forecast was set to brighten, but after spying a weather window for the north of the Lakes I set about planning an ascent of Blencathra from the hamlet of Mungrisdale.

It's not uncommon for me to set off from Mungrisdale for a hike up Blencathra, it's one of my favourite starting points because I usually include Bannerdale Crags east ridge into the route. But today I wanted to use a section of path on the south flank of The Tongue, which overlooks the Bannerdale Valley, from where I would gain Bowscale Fell before going onto Bannerdale Crags, Blencathra finally ending the walk on Souther Fell.

It was cloudy when I left home, but the skies began to part once I had passed Lanscaster, and true to form, the forecast had stayed as it said it would, arriving at Mungrisdale under warm morning sunshine. There was only one other car parked up, whose owner I would cross paths with later in the walk.

It was lovely and quiet; the only thing disturbing the silence were the rapids of the River Glenderamackin after last night's heavy downpours. It's too warm to add any more layers other than my shorts and a technical T, but I pack a light windproof just in case. After a final sweep of the boot, I lock my car and head towards the heart of the village, passing the Mill Inn and the odd early morning dog walker.

I left a sleepy Mungrisdale behind and was surprised to find, upon reaching this gate, that there were three groups of two walkers ahead of me, not including a chap and his dog walking towards me. I could only assume they had stayed at the Mill Inn, given how quiet the village car park was. Here I head towards the footpath you see just above the tree, which skirts the south flank of The Tongue above the Bannerdale Valley. 

Unbeknown to me, my friend Maggie Allen was also here today, exploring the highest remaining patch of ancient Atlantic oakwood in England, which can be found in the Bullfell Valley over on the right. 

I shared a 'morning' as I passed the dog walker, after which I spotted one of the couples making a direct ascent on The Tongue which was almost overgrown with bracken.

The other two couples crossed the footbridge across the Glenderamackin and followed its course through Bannerdale which left me guessing where they making an ascent on Bannerdale Crags east ridge, and if so, were they aware how eroded and boggy the path was, more so after last nights rain. I guess they would soon find out.

After leaving Bannerdale, I began my pathless ascent on Bowscale Fell where I probably under estimated the sheer size of the summit shoulder and, the hussocky, uneven ground underfoot. Nevertheless, I persevered sighting a herd of sheep that stood at the highest point. The sheep grazed and didn't seem to notice me as I passed through them as the summit cairn came into view, where I spotted a lady sitting at the shelter. "oh you lost the path too, did you?" I smiled back, replying that I had intentionally made the pathless ascent on account that I didn't want to 'double back' on ground already covered, pointing down the summit slope. 

As it turned out, she was from Blackrod on the outskirts of Wigan and like me, she walked the Lakeland fells as often as she could. She went on to say, however, that she was slow, especially in descent, due to a hamstring injury. After a few more minutes spent chatting, we parted ways as I began my descent while at the same time spotting the couple below who had just passed over The Tongue.

After crossing Mousthwaite Comb I dug my poles in and enjoyed the ascent of Souther Fell right up until I passed a family who were sat on the summit shoulder who, as I approached, had decided to leave. 

I pass with a hi and get more in return, only to turn around to take a photo finding who I presume to be the middle aged daughter squatting to take a pee in front of her parents and other family members. Just as I did, please don't dwell on that thought and pretend you never read it, just like I pretended I never saw it.

I wasn't that hungry and had only eaten half of my lunch box before placing it back in my pack along with my foam mat that I'd been sitting on. Pack-shouldered, I joined the pleasant path that offered wide open views as shadows tussled with sunlight across the countryside. Hot now but thankfully dry underfoot, I would often turn around to look beyond a sea of bracken towards Clough Head which shimmered in a slight haze. Strong light continued feeling the burn on the back of my neck as I reached the road below, where I held the gate for a fell runner and cyclist from the opposite direction. 

The fell runner was the same woman I'd seen crossing Scale Fell an hour earlier who, incredibly, was heading back up Souther Fell using the same route I'd descended. Kicking my feet into the backs of my boots, I walked the old tarmac lane as far as the signpost, which directed me through Low Birkside and over the River Glenderamackin for the last time. My car was in sight now, and I took my time closing the gate on the opposite side of the footbridge knowing the walk was coming to end. With Low Birkside behind me, I walked towards my car and arrived back at the same time as the walker I'd seen heading towards Glenderamackin Col from Mungrisdale Common. 

The fell runner who used the same descent from Souther was there kiting down behind her car, I noted her private registration 'RUN' which I couldn't help but be impressed by. The cyclist I'd opened the gate for was sitting on a bench not far from my car eating lunch while watching the Glenderamackin go by. As I took out my sandwich box, I noticed I'd trapped a couple of blades of grass in the lid as I had closed it, it wasnt just a couple blades of grass but a heartfelt blast back to my 'lunch with a view' half an hour earlier.