Buttermere wander.

The forecast on saturday night suggested a dry but cool and windy day so we headed for Buttermere. First we climbed steeply out of the valley up to Bleaberry Tarn and then climbed Dodd before tackling the loose scrambley slopes of Red Pike. A brisk cold easterly wind greeted us on the summit and forced us into hat and gloves. It would remain with us all day.

As we headed SE along the summit ridge towards High Stile and then High Crag the sky was grey but most of the fells remained cloud free and there views through to the Langdale Pikes. We made good progress to High Crag where we had a quick 'piece' and drink before dropping steeply down Gamlin End -the top part of which is very loose. At Scarth Gap we decided that brighter skies would make a continuation over Haystacks worth while so we plodded slowly up along with several others on this very popular fell. We had another 'piece ' near the summit and then continued along the ridge before starting the descent to Warnscale Bottom and Gatesgarth. By the time we were walking by the lake back to Buttermere village the sky was much brighter and it had warmed up making an ice cream a necessity at the village cafe.

Although it had been another cold June day we both enjoyed the day out doing a great route we'd not done for over a year.

The upper slopes of Red Pike.

Looking back to Red Pike from the slopes of High Stile.

Looking along the ridge to High Crag.

Scrambling up Haystacks.

Looking towards Great Gable from the Haystacks ridge.