A spontaneous 7-mile walk to Buttermere with Jamie (Lois only), despite the weather forecast.Route: Leaving the cottage for a short circuit out via High Swinside Farm and back via the village shop for lunch but, the rain still distant and the air still, continuing on past the summit of the road at High Swinside Farm to join the footpath to see whether it was possible to cross Hope Beck. Having crossed, deciding to duck out of climbing up the Dodd and carry on and following the footpath (very damp in places) all the way to Lanthwaite Green where the rain started to fall beside a barely visible but well-filled Crummock.
From there following the road down to Rannerdale, round the Knotts (in increasingly blustery wind and rain) and on to Crummock South Beach - briefly trying to find the path to cut the corner but finding the branches a bit low and lively at the wall around Great Wood to make it any fun and returning to the road. Walking on to Buttermere along the road and stopping briefly at the Bridge before catching the next bus back to Lorton.
Conditions: Initially still and dry with high-ish cloud but walking towards a socked-in Buttermere with increasing wind and rain from about half way
Pub: The Bridge, Buttermere, for Tractor Shed Mowdy Pale
