There was no real plan to do this walk until it came up in a e-mail a couple of weeks ago, which to be fair the origins of the route go back a couple of years but were brought up November last year when David and I walked High Street via the III Bell Ridge, David mentioned he'd like to walk the entire length of the Troutbeck valley, gain Stony Cove Pike via Doup Crag and return via the Troutbeck valley, I'd like to add that visiting any summit including Troutbeck Tongue wasn't on the agenda, just the valley walk if that makes sense. I mentioned to David I had some leave coming up and from there all we had to do was keep an eye on the forecast which had forecasted a bright start followed by sunny spells. I'd also like to add that David is not so much recovering, but preventing his plantar fascilitis returning after feeling the twinge a couple of months back, since then he's been keeping the ascent and mileages low and today was his first 'big walk' since that twinge.

We had arranged to meet at the parking spaces at Church Bridge, Troutbeck where I arrived to find a Dutch plated camper van taking up the spaces of four cars, I mean what a totally inconsiderate thing to do when he/she could have reversed the camper just as easily. I managed to park and when David arrived he was forced to tuck his car in behind mine. Minutes later I'd calmed down and kitted up in the cool morning air while the morning sunlight streaked through the tree canopy above our heads. We were soon ready to leave opting to gain the east side of the Troutbeck valley by means of Limefitt Holiday Park.

Before we could begin our descent there were two more walls that required crossing, one of which was chest height luckily it too had protruding stone blocks to gain purchase by. The wall was quite substantial and nothing like we had crossed previously so packs and equipment were removed to prevent any snagging before the leap of faith onto the other side.

The wall was crossed without incident and with packs re shouldered we began our descent towards the base of Doup Crag not before David spotted four Deer high on our left flank, being well out of harms way the Deer just stared back waiting for us to move on. Just one of the many highlights I took from the walk.

A second wall required crossing at Sad Gill which descended via High Bull Crag. From a distance this wall crossing looked like a piece of cake instead we were presented with another chest high wall. The wall passed over the gill where a wooded trap on chains prevented large debris from flowing further down the gill.

David had the genius idea to lift the trap up and pass under it but this meant removing our packs again and there was always the chance one of us could slip into the water which although narrow, was deep. Instead we crossed the gill, removed our packs and scaled the wall to find the drop higher on the other side, adding to this it was like a quagmire down there, oh well at least it's going to be a soft landing!

David had been stretching his feet whenever he got the chance, in fact it was so often he apologised because he felt it was holding me up, absolutely no need to apologise I replied. Fed and watered I re-shouldered whilst David said he wanted to remove his boots and give his feet a massage before setting off - with my back turned whilst taking in the view all I heard was "shit" as I span around to catch David coming to a stop on flat rock at a thirty degree angle "what happened I asked!"

After removing my boot I lost my balance, stood in a puddle, got my whole sock wet and tumbled back about six feet! I couldn't help but laugh followed by silence whilst David laced up...So David I sarcastically asked, hows the foot treatment going? We both saw the funny side David still chuckling wet sock an all.

Many of the walls we had crossed extended into the Troutbeck valley and we shared a few laughs at our previous attempts at getting over them, Olympian wall scalers we were not. The sunshine came and went the wind biting at times leaving it feeling like the first few days of Spring rather than the first day of Summer but the brightness eventually returned as we approached the old Clapper Bridge at Troutbeck Park from where we took in last views back down the valley. We turned heel in silence the slate stone wobbling under our weight as we joined the flowing track through the woodland below Troutbeck Tongue's western flanks. Troutbeck Park Farm eventually came into view and with soaking calfs we descended into the farmyard disturbing dozens of swallows and a rather unfriendly farm dog.

The farmyard gave way for the smooth tarmac track of Ing Lane where we were treated to sunlit fields of yellow daisies with extensive views of the III Bell ridge beyond. We crossed Ing Bridge flanked by cows, sheep and lambs all the while ravens squawked overhead. Ing Lane made way for Truss Lane, a narrow lonning that would lead us back onto the A592 not before being passed by a couple riding gravel bikes followed by a young lad and two gorgeous red Spaniels. For the final time today we lowered our walking poles as the track began to climb towards the road where we could hear the odd car pass. We were soon brought back to reality as the top of Truss Lane was reached but David had the idea to turn left and follow the permissive path back to Limefitt flanked by more grazing sheep under warm sunshine.