I'm on the road to recovery, but somehow I managed to ignite an old back injury while cutting the lawn the other day. Honestly, you couldn't make it up could you? The injury stems back to around 2007 when I jumped up to catch a cricket ball, but my wife Paula insists it happened when I had to fish our then, half-blind Westie Lucy out of the canal after she had fallen in. No matter how I caused the injury it regularly comes back to haunt me. I woke this morning and my back felt a little stiff but nowhere near as painful as it had during Monday, so I thought I'd head to Mardale Head and walk Branstree to Selside Pike via Gatescarth Pass.

The temptation to climb High Street was very tempting, but with my luck at the moment I'd only aggravate my injury further, so I thought I'd try a walk a little less demanding. I arrived to find the car park full which was to be expected, but I managed to park on the outskirts of the car park ahead of half a dozen other cars. A young couple were also kitting up behind their car and nods were shared over the roofs of the cars. The young lad then approached me, asking had I climbed High Street before and was it easy to link it with a descent via Small Water? I talked him through the route, the lad thanked me, and off they went. The car journey had left my back feeling stiff again, but it was manageable after a few minutes of walking and stretching about. The young couple had just passed through the deer gate and held it open for an elderly chap and his Jack Russell, who in turn held it open for me as I approached. The couple turned right towards the footbridge over Mardale Beck while I turned left onto Gatescarth Pass. 

It was almost 13:00pm now and all I've had to eat was a banana and a cereal bar so I told myself I'd break for lunch behind the stone wall seen in the distance, trouble was no matter which side I was on I couldn't escape the wind before remembering the stone shelter on Selside Pike's summit. I'm sure my stomach can wait another half hour or so...

Before I left I spent a few moments counting how many circular trig points are in the Lake District, including Branstree I know of three with Great Yarlside , Blencathra and If I'm not mistaken, Birks which is hidden below the stone cairn.

A big thank you to Karl Holden for getting in touch to add two more circular trig points at Knipe Scar and, Seat Robert both of which are situated in the far east of the district.

Under brilliant afternoon sunshine I left the peat huts and began the final descent of the Corpse Road, passing an elderly couple just yards from the tarmac. They were the first two people I'd seen in hours, and we shared nods and smiles as we passed. I joined the road and took in the views deep into Riggindale as Rowantreethwaite Beck falls drowned out the noise from passing cars. I knew that the views from this road-walk would be fantastic and I had been looking forward to the last mile as I had the first. I was treated to hot sunshine and a warm headwind as I took in every inch of The Rigg, feeling impressed by its higher than usual water line. Only the head of the reservoir was dry, but not dry enough to walk across like the last couple of summers.

Yesterday's rainfall was still draining down the flanks of Branstree spilling out across the road and in places, cascading into mini water falls where I was able to swill my boots and the tips of my walking poles. Oddly, the water was not as cold as it looked. Passing groups walking in the opposite direction where hi's were shared. The same goes for the fell runner, and a solo woman who had to wait for a car to pass through a large puddle so she didn't take a soaking. We both saw the funny side. Car windscreens glinting in the sunshine, my car was no longer at the front of the line but half a dozen lengths back. The young couple's car was still behind mine, and I wondered how far round they were while glancing up at the white cascades of Mardale Beck before they merged into Haweswater.