Roe Deer in Patterdale

This Roe Deer was feeding in marshy ground, just a stone's throw behind the White Lion and Post Office in Patterdale village. I saw her through trees and approached to gain a better shot. She watched me as I clumsily, and noisily, sploshed closer. I expected her to move away beyond the reach of me and my camera, and it intrigued me that she had obviously calculated when I would have to stop. When the muddy water was lapping near the top of my walking boots, I could go no further and she resumed her browsing. In fact, she was so laid back with my presence that I had to cough, sneeze, grunt and whistle to encourage her to look up. She resolutely refused to look at me!

I was walking a horseshoe from the A591, up Tongue Gill to Grisedale Tarn, over St. Sunday Crag and down into Patterdale. To take the Hartsop above How ridge back to Hart Crag and Fairfield, I needed to walk through Patterdale which, today, was very lucky timing. From Fairfield, I dropped down over Great Rigg and Stone Arthur and back to the A591. A fantastic - but long - walk on a beautiful day.