Matchstick men

...in serious numbers, were marching over Striding Edge today. Liz and I came up last night and are staying in Patterdale again.

We decided on a circular route starting from Glenridding. We skirted round to the Grisedale valley and up over Dollywagon. We soon realised there was an event going on as teams of numbered people were descending towards us. It wasn't a peaceful walk but it did make a change seeing the hills loaded with people enjoying themselves.

Going up Helvellyn, catching sight of the profile of Striding Edge was quite a spectacle with the number of people crossing it - and nothing to do with the event either. Not the direction we were heading today but fascinating to watch the queues for a while.

Even though it was quite hazy for long distance views, we both really enjoyed our ridge walk with light winds and plenty of warm sunshine.

Continuing towards Raise, the hills quietened down and turning right at Sticks Pass gave us a beautiful quiet descent through a hanging valley which takes on quite a different feel to the surrounding hills... Very isolated and loaded with heather but almost industrial with the old mine workings and piles of rubble.

Cheese toastie and a coffee was still on my agenda from the other day and we arrived back at the planned cafe to find not a cheese toastie in sight. Our alternative soup and a sandwich was a semi-disappointment to the extent that we asked for part of our money back. It was handled exceptionally well but has dampened the experience of what was one of my favourite coffee shops. It certainly wasn't going to spoil the day though but cheese toastie and coffee is high on the list for tomorrow's tick list.

The hut is very busy and the dogs have attracted much attention so we have enjoyed chitchat with a number of lovely people.

After both eating plenty, Liz is now ensconced in the hut and I've battened down the hatches with two tired dogs in the van. If dogs could talk, the four of us would agree a fine day out, I'm sure.