Castle Crag, High Spy, Maiden Moor and Catbells

It's easter weekend. The weather forecast for the Lake District is appauling and we put off coming on Friday because it was raining at home.

We decided that as long as the weather wasn't too terrible, we were going to bite the bullet and go to the Lakes anyway. So Saturday morning arrived and we got up early and packed our camping stuff in the car and set off for the Lakes. The traffic was quiet and we got there in really good time.

We have now nearly completed all of the peaks in Wainwrights "Northern Fells" book so we decided to move onto the "North Western Fells" (we're saving the last couple of Northern Fells for our holiday in June as we're already booked back into our cottage in Bassenthwaite). We found a campsite near Buttermere Lake in the village of Seatoller, the views were beautiful.

We roughly planned a route close to where we were camping including Castle Crag (which Julia Bradbury covered in her TV programme Wainwright Walks). As we approached Castle Crag you could make it out immediately, quite small but very distinctive. The mountains in this area of the Lakes are so very different to what we are used to. Skiddaw and Blencathra are vast sloping mountains, whereas these are very craggy. Castle Crag was lovely but because it was a beautiful day (and because it has been on TV) the summit was really busy.

It was now midday and the sky was clear blue with not a cloud in site, it was warm and we were in such lovely surroundings.

We then decided to make our way up to High Spy, which was quite a long slog to the top, but we were rewarded with such lovely views. Then we had to decide whether to head West over towards Dale Head and Robinson or if to head North towards Maiden Moor and Catbells. After short deliberation we headed North and stopped at Maiden Moor, to take in the views. Much to Molly's delight a really nice couple who were sat taking in the views offered Molly a piece of chocolate orange (which made this Molly's favourite fell of the weekend).

Then we moved on to Catbells, which was quite a bit further than I had planned. (This is another fell that Julia covered in her TV series). This was also very busy.......in fact I think the M62 was quieter on the way over! I much prefer the quieter lesser known fells, you can enjoy them for their peaceful beauty.

Then to give Niki's poorly knee a bit of a rest we decided to decend at Catbells and walk back to Seatoller along a public footpath along the flat.

Then it was back to the tent for some scrummy food that Niki had made before we came, a nice cup of tea then early to bed.

So much for the rubbish weather forecast it's been such a lovely day.......maybe the rain will come tomorrow!