5 Sep. - Catbells

 

Image: View north to Bassenthwaite Lake from cairn at Catbells summit

Fine weather + Ransome inspired anticipation impel an early'ish start for an ascent of Catbells.

Through the Keswick town square - filled with the day's market stalls.
Bridges, gated paths (Miles without Stiles), woodland filled with birdcall + then the climb.
The false victory of Skelgill Bank before steep scramble + zig-zag to Catbells summit - stiff breeze, spots of rain, chill air, scudding low cloud - but the view ... the view.

Have I longed for this? Or is the time simply now?
It compels with its rugged, yet approachable 'scapes of crags, fells, peaks, woods, lakes, screes, heaths + paths - always paths ... 'walk me', 'explore', 'delight'.

On descent, weary feet + novelty suggest the Keswick launch home across Derwent Water but they both just glide blithely past!

S heads to London, solo, tomorrow. Dynamic will change ...

Notes: As a child I was introduced to, and became an avid reader of, Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons stories, set in the Lake District. Miles without Stiles is an accessibility scheme positively transforming many of the ancient paths in Britain. The following day we discovered the launch doesn't stop at certain stages if the lake level is too high for safe embarkation.