High Street.

With no sign of a return to summer weather here in Cumbria the forecast suggested that the best conditions would be in the east so we headed for the small hamlet of Hartsop to have a wander in the High Street range. It rained for much of the journey but as we descended towards Ullswater the sky brightened and the rain stopped giving us some hope that the forcast may be correct.

The first part of our route was a steep climb up onto Hartsop Dodd which is never easy straight out of the car. There were some good views north but out to the west most of the Lake District was cloud covered. We made good progress to Stony Cove Pike, with Susan setting a cracking pace, but slowed as we descended steeply to Threshthwaite Mouth and then climbed to Thornthwaite Crag. Cloud kept blowing in from the west obscuring the view but generally the conditions weren't too bad and we got some views of the Kentmere fells.

After an early lunch behind the wall that runs over the summit of Thornthwaite Crag we headed out to Mardale Ill Bell hoping for a view of High Street's east face above Blea Water. The clouds, however, rolled in so we saw little. By the time we'd walked on to High Street the cloud had lifted and we had a good view down Riggindale as we headed for Kidsty Pike.

From here the weather deteriorated and it started to rain. So after we'd ticked off High Raise, Rampsgill Head and the Knott we decided to call it a day and descended via Hayeswater to the car. The fells to the west looked to be having worse weather so we were glad to have studied the forecast and chosen our route for the day wisely. 

Having a rest on Hartsop Dodd ridge after the first steep pull of the day.

Looking towards Thornthwaite Crag.

Thornthwaite Crag's distinctive summit cairn.

High Street Trig Point.

The view to Kidsty Pike.

The view down Riggindale.

Susan looks down Ramps Gill as the weather starts to close in.