A 13km linear walk with cloud on the tops.Route: from the cottage, taking the Boonbeck road to Scales and then heading west before turning south on a green lane. At High Swinside Farm crossing the road to find a parallel path to discover a brand new footbridge over Hope Beck. Continuing a little southwards and then arbitrarily and a little too soon turning left uphill under the Dodd across marshy terrain, eventually finding a path more easily because of no new bracken growth yet. Then heading upwards and leftwards on a clear path to gain altitude. At the saddle between Dodd and the slope towards Whiteside, turning left to head steeply up Whiteside (in cloud from 600m) and turning left along the summit ridge to Hopegill Head, down to Sand Hill, and further down to Coledale Hause. Rejecting the possible scramble onto Eel Crag and Crag Hill and instead following the gradually ascending well-made path beside Liza Beck to a crossroads. There continuing straight to ascend a little more (north of Wandope) and then descend via Whiteless Edge onto Whiteless Pike, reaching Grasmere Village via Mill Beck and thence to the pub. Later taking a half full 4:24pm 77A Honister Rambler bus home (being two days too early for the free Cockermouth Bluebell Shuttle which would have left an hour earlier!).
Conditions: damp with cloud above the Dodd though later, after the walk, some sun and cloud lifting over lunch.
Pub: the Buttermere Court Hotel (née Fish) for Corby Brewing Company Blonde and Signal Peak APA and a light £7 lunch - followed by cortados at Sykes Farm
