Aira Force, Ullswater

A long leisurely breakfast, partly due to the wrong sort of sausages meant that we were not out of the hotel 'til gone 11.30.

A short drive took us to the National Trust carpark at the base of the Force. We joined the tourists ambling around the many footpaths through and above the gorge until we came to the main falls, which despite the wet weather were quite muted and clear for this time of year.

We carried on from Aira Force up to Gowbarrow Fell - far fewer people but despite the weather gave good views of  Ullswater and surrounding fells. The return journey was into the teeth of a rising fake that created  whitecaps on the lake blow us. We'd walked this route the previous year and the lakeside section is particularly spectacular.

The rain, which until then had held off, began to come down heavily so it was time to retreat to the new NT tearoom near the carpark.

We enjoyed hot drinks and shared an excellent slice of Victoria sponge before returning to the hotel for a great evening of beer, wine, food and rugby finally relaxing in the lounge beside the fire as the wind roared and the rain pelted down outside.