Name of walk	Ullswater Lakeshore Path with Claire
Date of walk	2023-02-16

Early on Thursday morning I drove to the Kirkstone Pass in rain and very low cloud and fog. I went past Lake Windermere and couldn’t see it! Once over the Pass the low cloud was higher and Brothers Water and Ullswater were in view. Thankfully the weather here was better than forecast, as I was meeting up with Claire, an old friend from school. We last saw each other when I stayed in her room at University College Hospital when we were both students in London. That was 45 years ago! Over the years we have kept in touch. She was staying for the week in Glenridding with her eldest son Preston and two friends, Chris and Sarah from Frinton-On-Sea, where Claire lived when we were at school. We were meeting at Glenridding Steamer Pier, as I had suggested a low level walk from Howtown back to Glenridding, a walk of 7 miles. Plenty of time to natter and some good scenery even if it was raining.

The view back to Glenridding from near the pier.

Blue sky over Birkhouse Moor and Glenridding as we take the 35 minute journey to Howtown.

Preston, Sarah, Chris, the boatman, Tegan the dog and Claire.

Claire and me.

I took very few photos on the boat as we were too busy catching up. It was as if 45 years ago was yesterday!

Hallin Fell as we head into Howtown.

Arriving at Howtown. We now walk the undulating 7 mile lakeside path under Hallin Fell and Place Fell back to Glenridding.

There are some great view from the path.

Preston takes this one of us.

Tegan leads the way.

Preston and Tegan test the water.

Tegan is a Hearing Dog finishing her training.

The route under Hallin Fell.

The 11.05 from Howtown.

We pass through Sandwick.

Preston relaxing while waiting for us to catch up. Gowbarrow Fell is out of the mist.

Preston, Tegan and Chris heading up again.

Did I mention it was undulating?

The view across to Glencoyne.

View down to one of the steamers heading back to Glenridding. Lyulph's Tower across the water.

There are a few places where the path is quite exposed.

Canoists.

I wait on a rock for Claire and Sarah to catch up while Chris and Preston go on ahead. A great view back along the path.

Monument to three artists.

Lots of moss on the barn roof.

We are now opposite Glenridding, so not far to go now. The weather had been perfect, warm and no rain.

View back to Place Fell and Side Farm.

We cross the beck.

Claire has taken a cottage on the Greenside Road that leads up to Helvellyn. Great views!

View across to Birkhouse Moor.

View towards Sheffield Pike,

The walk took us four hours and forty minutes. Then we went back to the cottage for coffee and cake and a look through a few old school photos. It was good to spend a whole day listening to Essex accents! Lets hope it’s not another 45 years before we meet up again!

Jo.