After witnessing a superb sunrise during my drive north I was a tad shocked to find the far east of the park under grey cloud, more so after bright sunshine had been forecast from the off, however there was promise in them there clouds which looked thin enough to peel away as the morning progressed. I had all intentions to walk Pike O'Blisco and Cold Pike from Wrynose Pass but given that today is the best weather day out the Easter Weekend I also had my reservations for how busy my drive back through Little Langdale would be so I've shelved that walk for another day. I arrived at Mardale Head about 06:50am to find just four spaces left on the car park but don't despair just yet, a good percentage of those cars were taken up by a film crew who had a very impressive drone under a tent further back up the road.

After straining my ears I learned that the crew would be filming the scattering of someones ashes. I've done a little research but found nothing. Other than the crew, a fell runner had just left Mardale Head who would pass me on his return on Long Stile leaving a young girl who looked to have pre-walk nerves walking away then returning to her car her eyes glued to her mobile, then again she could have been checking the GPS signal on her phone. By the time I was ready to leave (after plenty of ear-wigging in the direction of the film crew) I too left, passing through the deer gate feeling hopeful the cloud would lift soon.

I arrived at the summit the same time as a couple who had ascended via Selside Brow. Pleasantry chat soon turned into full on conversation as we stood there putting the world to 'walking world' to rights. As it turned out they were from Kendal but had walked all over the country including Snowdonia "Ever walked the Nanttle Ridge" well as you should ask...I was there two Thursdays ago! Great minds an all.

After sharing a few heavenly words with the late Ron Black I left my lunch spot over looking Swindale Head and linked back up with Selside End where I passed two couples on route to Selside Pike. I had by now delayered further leaving me in shorts and T-shirt to enjoy the warm Spring sunshine as I joined a rather boggy Corpse Road. I watched the two couples until they disappeared from view while looking forward to what I consider to be one of the best views in Lakeland 'Mardale Head from the Corpse Road peat huts. I know that that this is a view that everyone must enjoy but I prayed I could enjoy it alone if only for a few minutes. My prayers were answered and I soaked up the views until my heart was content, it was perfect. Butterflies still whizzing around my stomach I began my descent back to Mardale Road below where I spotted cars still making their way towards Mardale Head at twelve thirty in the afternoon, they would be bitterly disappointed if they wished to park. I was passed by a fell runner during my descent then a solo walker ascending off path while taking in the view of Rowentreethwaite Beck falls whose white water filled my ears until I reached the road.

With the tarmac reached now was a good time to kick my feet into the backs of my boots, not because they were painful but I love the feeling of the shift which set me up nicely for the half mile walk back to Mardale Head. I was passed by more cars heading towards the car park, some came back others didn't but judging by how many cars now lined the road I wondered how they might park. It was lovely and warm with Haweswater shimmering in the sunshine below, its waterline retreated since the last time I was here to the point I could actually walk across south western tip without getting my boots wet. I pass a coppice of pines below Brant Street where I took in a sudden drop in temperature causing the hairs on my arms to spring up and my eyes to open fully as adversed to squinting which I'd been unknowingly doing for the duration. There was no sign of the film crew nor drone for that matter, just lines of cars, a belly of fulfilment and windscreens reflecting back the sunshine.