Route: from the Kirkstone Pass Inn (at 8:10am) steeply up Red Screes, down into Scandale Pass and then from the ridge west of Little Hart Crag up the line of fence posts to reach the main ridge south of Dove Crag and thence to Hart Crag and Fairfield for a short rest. Descending the steep scree path down towards Grisedale Hause but cutting the corner to the exit of the tarn. Then up the steady staircase of the recently pitched path up to Dollywaggon Pike and then via High Crag and Nethermost Pike to Helvellyn, lunching shortly after. Along the ridge to Whiteside Bank, Raise and to Stybarrow Dodd. Descending under Whitestones to Hart Side and Birkett Fell and then descending along a wall (on steep and tussocky grass) to reach the path from Glencoyne Head and following the higher level path through wet bracken to Dockray and the pub for a pint / tea and scones. In intermittent light rain steeply up the newly pitched path to the summit of Gowbarrow and down to find the path through trees in Swinburn Park as far as the Watermillock to Matterdale Road. Up this briefly and along the road to Bennethead. Then via a chicken farm to a barn on the horizon and descending damp overgrown fields to reach a caravan park and along the road to Pooley Bridge and back to Barton House (8:50pm).
Conditions: the promised blue skies not materialising, initially high cloud and a cold summit wind, followed by some hazy sun and then later intermittent light rain.
Pub: Royal Hotel, Dockray for Corby Ale. The Sun Inn, Pooley Bridge for Jennings Cockerhoop and Ringwood Showman’s Tipple.
