Jan 2010 - Lake District - Holme Fell
	We started the walk from our rented holiday cottage Foxgloves, it was an overcast day with low cloud so a small fell was just right for our last walk of the week. There were small patches of ice and snow left on the paths and a good covering of  snow still on the higher tops.
Hodge Close Quarry was deserted, neither divers entering the murky depths of the flooded workings nor any climber’s abseiling down the steep sides; we turned off to take a boggy path across to a gate that led us right onto the fell itself.
	A rather large muddy patch of ground met us as we passed through the gate on to the fell path. John pictured filming the signpost with the fell name on. (Yes, we are getting to the age were a little visual help comes in handy).
The path led us uphill to a disused frozen reservoir, our map told us to pass to the left of it but there was no sign of a path that way. Soon found one to the right of the water and after making our way through more boggy bits we trekked our way steadily upwards.
	Photo stop, you can see the reservoir down below; the weather seemed to be heading for rain and the views were just not going to be a feature on this walk so you have got me instead (sorry).
It has occurred to me that the cairn on top of Holme Fell may not be the highest point but we did not see a trig point so we took it for the high spot. We had the place to ourselves, no one seemed to want to venture out on this little bit of Lakeland and it was quite nice too.
	The photo shows the view from the summit looking over Coniston water, as you can see the weather looked even more threatening.
We wondered about a little on the descent, always finding some view to try to capture despite the poor light, you may just be able to see John on this photo.
	Then we followed what looked like a good path but it petered out and we found ourselves in a gully. After a lot of detours around the boggy bits we went through a patch of trees and even under one to come out just below the path we should have come down on.
Before we went through the gate to take us back to the quarry we turned left to walk up a lane and take a photo of the cottages we were staying in, the small row were once the homes of former quarry workers.

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Aug 2010 - Lake District - Coniston to Tarn Hows
	After crossing the road to take a path signposted to Tarn Hows  via the Monk Coniston estate we soon reached the gate into the gardens of Monk Coniston but not before turning to take in the views of Coniston Water opening up below us. The last time we had been on this walk the view was very different, bare trees and a sheen of frost lay all about. It was Christmas 2007 and we were with Dave and our late brother Clive.
The walled garden was now laid out and lots of fruit and vegetables are growing in it. I was tempted to pick a plum or two but managed just to resist. What a great spot for an allotment (Would you ever get any work done?), the view was lovely. .
	After following the signed path round the outer estate we left it by a gate and crossed a small but busy road to enter the woods and once again trekked uphill on the pleasant, wide track through the woods. I must confess to having a little grumble about the steepness of the  walk,in places there are steps to help you along the way, this being our first walk in the Lakes for some time, has made me realise how unfit I have become.
We reached a dam of sorts with a bridge across it, I have not found out what it was for but it may well have something to do with the estate. There was very little water behind it and it has not been maintained in any way except for the bridge.
	On reaching the car park at Tarn Hows the first thing we saw was the ice-cream van, we deserved a treat after all that uphill walking. The weather had been kind to us, warm and for the most part bright, we sat for a while just taking in the view and other people watched too, lots around today.
Tarn Hows was below us but so were all the crowds that had come to enjoy it, so we decided to walk around to a view point above it all and eat our lunch in peace.
	The stile that we remembered again from a previous walk was about half a mile around the right hand side of the lake. It led us across a field and up to a grassy hillock, it was here that we had a bite to eat and a rest. The views from this small top was far reaching and it just proves you do not have to aim very high here in the Lakes to be rewarded with picture postcards views. We retraced our route back to the car and yes it was downhill all the way. (Thank goodness says she!)
Lunch stop with a view thrown in - what more could you want?