I cannot count the number of times I have driven up the M6 between Lancaster and Penrith. It is my favourite stretch of motorway anywhere, and the views of the surrounding fells as you approach Tebay are breathtaking. The fells to the east are The Howgill Fells. When I was planning a couple of days away to take the 5D out properly, those fells were an obvious choice. I was camping with my friend and we planned a walk from the campsite to The Calf, the highest point of these fells.

When morning came, it was misty and clammy. We couldn’t see the fells when we set off, and we were prepared to turn back if the views did not appear or the visibility was restricted and potentially dangerous- a good friend of mine once said the most important skill when out in the fells or mountains is knowing when to turn back (or not set off in the first place!). On this very warm August day we were lucky!

We walked up a long shoulder, a sort of humpbacked ridge, climbing steadily, still in the mist with little view of the fells. When we were most of the way up, we caught a glimmer of sunshine, and a brief glimpse of a nearby fell. It quickly disappeared, but over the next few minutes the sun began to burn off the mist and bigger patches of fell appeared. The images I took don’t really do justice to the impact that this had on us. It was like the mist had waited for us to get most of the way up the fell and then decided to let us in on a big secret, revealing the majestic, rolling fells all around. It was amazing and a really magical moment which we took plenty of time to appreciate.

We continued to The Calf and sat near the trig point enjoying the view towards the Lakeland fells whilst eating lunch.It was a very special few hours, and I hope that the pictures I have shared here give you an inkling of what it was like for us.

4. A Big Reveal in the Howgill Fells.

3. Barra and Vatersay, a Source of Increasing Frustration.