Top of the world

Earlier in the week Charlie sent me some police lockdown guidance that said it's OK to drive somewhere to exercise as long as the walk you're taking is significantly longer than the drive. Consequently, I felt fairly relaxed about driving the few miles across the valley to park by the cattle grid just north of Tuplot Wood, this afternoon.

From there, Dan and I walked up to Barbondale and then east along the valley until we came to the footpath up to Bullpot. It's a fair climb but the stream was pretty much dry, which made things a bit easier. And it was surprisingly easy, actually; these daily walks have made a difference to us! 

We took Fell Road from Bullpot Farm around the back of Brownthwaite Pike before heading up the path that runs just 'round and below the cairn. I'd assumed we wouldn't be going up there but Dan had thought quite the reverse so we made our way up the steep hillside to the top (again, at a pretty impressive pace).

I'd brought two small cans of beer along and we drank those, sat on the stones looking down on the Lune Valley (see my Extra). To our left we could see the Lune snaking its way south and in the distance we could make out Morecambe Bay. It was quite breathtaking. We spent a happy few minutes, basking in the sun, occasionally pointing things out to one another, and I collected a few stones for the Minx's Potting Bar.

And after that it was all - quite literally - downhill. We passed across the top of the field containing the stone circle, which is where I took this photo of Dan, and rejoined a lower stretch of Fell Road for a little while before turning onto the path called Fellfoot Road. Along here are some of the old Sheepfolds into which Andy Goldsworthy placed large stones*.

And then it was a short walk through Tuplot Wood back to the car. (You can see a few more photos from our walk here.)

*I don't know.

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-9.7 kgs
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