Fairfield Horseshoe

Distance: 13 miles
Ascent: 1100m
Weather: cloudy on the tops, bit chilly.
Forgotten Fitbits: 2
Wainwrights: 8
Fieldfare, Herdys.

Before we left the apartment this morning,  we'd seen three deer in the garden and a heron.

There were blue skies overhead and the water seemed to have drained away in some places, although it was still very wet underfoot.  Many paths had obviously become streams recently,  some still were running with water.

We started off along to High Sweden Bridge, then followed the grassy track up to Low and High Brock Crags, where we stopped to look at a fieldfare. Heading higher, we were up into the clouds, which had been gathering on the tops since about 10am.

It was quite steep up to High Pike, Dove Crag and Hart Crag,  including a tiny bit of wall indecisiveness.

As we stopped for lunch in the shelter on Fairfield,  there were brief patches of blue sky,  although it was damp and I got cold - needing to stop and wrap up warmer not long after setting off.  A sensible walker would have done this when she realised she was getting cold... But thanks to the power of Buffalo Mitts,  I was soon warm again.

The path down is deceptively gentle to begin with.  We went over Great Rigg, Heron Pike and Lord Crag, with clearing views over Grasmere and Rydal Water. 

Dropping down off Nab Scar was steep,  wet and rocky, but we'd made good progress and there was good  light under the clear skies in the late afternoon. Still quite achy thighs and knees by this time.

The footpath through Rydal Hall grounds was easy going, and then we returned through Ambleside.