I worked last Saturday and with Sunday the brighter day I packed my gear into the car, and I was ready to head north when the spring sunshine got the better of me. I love being in the garden, and I try to keep on top of it through the winter, but with all the wet weather, I'd neglected it, and it was beginning to show, so I switched the engine off, grabbed my travel cup, and walked back into the house. There is a method in my madness. I could have easily waited a few more weeks to sort the garden, but with two free weekends ahead, I thought I should get it out of the way today and free up the next two Saturdays. 

As it turns out, I missed one hell of a day in the lakes with dramatic cloud and a snow line above 650 metres. The Fell Top Assessor had taken a wonderful image from Striding Edge, and guess who was up there too? Yeah, David, who also shared some stunning photos with me and Rod. Well, at least I had a tidy garden (rolls eyes) I had every intention to head to Snowdonia this weekend, but the forecast flipped at the last minute, so I turned back to Lakeland. Bill Birkett referred to this walk as the Nether Wasdale Circuit, but it's more commonly known as the Greendale Round, trouble was I was forced to alter the walk due to strong winds from the off, that doesn't mean I didn't have a blast.

I knew that strong winds had been forecast, but nothing prepared me for the winds that greeted me when I arrived at Wast Water, where breaking waves created white horses across the lake's surface. Minutes later, I'd arrived at Greendale, where I parked next to a hatchback that was being rocked from side to side by the wind as it roared through the valley, flipping eck. This wind was a tad stronger than forecasted! I walked to the back of the car and was treated to an icelandic blast as I kitted up while my thought process was being overun by a possible plan B walk.

I returned to the comforts of the driver's seat and gazed through the window at the hatchback rocking in the wind. Despite one chap setting off for Middle Fell well ahead of me, I was less than enthusiastic to follow him, so while sitting there, I decided to head for Greendale Tarn first and evaluate the wind from the col which divides Middle Fell from Seatallan. Locking the car, I set off headlong into the wind which caused my eyes to stream within minutes. Wiping the tears away with my gloved hand, I continued my ascent. The chap up ahead was almost out of view, having committed to Middle Fell. 

The wind dropped as I ascended into Greendale Gill, and for the first time in half an hour, the sound of cascading water dominated the ascent. Over to my left, I spotted two walkers in a pathless descent towards the gill from the direction of the Joss Naylor cairn a couple of hundred feet behind them. My first thought was 'blimey, they were up early' followed by 'I wonder if the wind had gotten the better of them' I would soon find out for myself.

I waved at the chap before I left the summit, but he was in such good form that he would overtake me again at the head of Gill Beck before I would lose sight of him. The wind had dropped during descent, but not enough to take the edge of the windchill, which bit at exposed skin. I knew from how tender my face felt that it would be raw for a few hours to come. With Harrow Head below, I continued my descent, with firm ground underfoot and the wind still howling about my ears. A herd of sheep had been left at the roadside leaving the odd straggler on the road who, as I passed would dart into the bracken like their life depended on it. 

I began my walk back to Greendale while being passed by the odd car and a trio of cyclists who warned me of their approach with a 'hey-up-bike!!' The road seemed quiet now, and I swear I could see chinks of blue sky over Illgill Head, but in the same breath, I'd never seen the Scafells look so uninviting. I passed Joss Naylor's old cottage where, back in April 2011, I not only met Joss but had my photo taken with him. Joss's cottage is now holiday accommodation, but if you look closely enough, you can still see some of Joss's pictures hanging on the walls.