The women arrived throughout the late afternoon and settled into their accommodation, some in the Langstrath Inn and others in Knotts View B&B and Stonethwaite Farm, then all met up for dinner with Marian and I (Sara) later in the evening.

There was a great mixture of women, with Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Canadian, Polish and of course English.

The quality, quantity and presentation of the yummy menu was superb. After dinner, we all moved through to the lounge area to discuss the next few days and get to know each other a bit better.

The bar in the Langstrath Inn has a lovely log fire that is always burning at this time of year, so some of us had a nightcap before bed.

The sunshine of the previous day had disappeared behind a blanket of cloud and the forecast wasn't looking too good, so while Marian took the Intermediate walk to Watendlath, I led the High level walk up Glaramara - the majestic fell at the head of Borrowdale.

The grey skies didn't deter the women and steadily we made their way up towards Glaramara, managing to take in the views back across Derwent Water on the way.

We decided to tackle the small scramble to the summit and gave each other gentle encouragement.

Jayne was slightly hesitant, but wanted to give it a go and did well until she managed to straddle a rock half way up!

With lots of giggles and a gentle hand or two, she found her way (and her legs again) and everyone made it to the top for our first snack break!

The weather really closed in and we found ourselves in low cloud, strong gusts and horizontal rain!

Off we set along the broad ridge towards Allen Crags.

Keeping closely together and protecting ourselves as best we could with our waterproofs, we soon covered the distance and continued over the top to the shelter on the path junction leading to Scafell Pike.

No-one felt like stopping again, so after a treat from my secret sweetie bag, we continued down the path next to Grains Gill.

The cloud had lifted sufficiently to give views down the valley and the rain stayed away enough for some women to empty their boots and ring out their socks!

After crossing Stockley Bridge, the group had a brief break for water etc before continuing back along the Allerdale Ramble to Stonethwaite.

Marian's Intermediate walk had meantime headed for Watendlath via the steep but relatively short path up to Dock Tarn.

This path threads its way up through the ancient woodland that covers the fellside below 300m - Borrowdale rainforest!

As we reached the top we passed the waterfalls which were roaring, and progressed on to Dock tarn and down to Watendlath hamlet on the old bridleway.

Watendlath tearooms made a good elevenses stop, before following the river down past the Lodore falls.

We walked through Grange and took the path through Low and High Hows woods beside the river Derwent.

This gave us an opportunity to visit Millican Dalton's Cave on the way.

Millican Dalton was an early 'outdoor' enthusiasts - an excentric Victorian who used to invite his friends camping in this quarry cave on the slopes of Castle Crag.

From here we walked next to the river to Rosthwaite's reknown Flock-In tea rooms - spotting a whole field of orchids on the way.

After tea and cake, we walked back to our hot showers in Stonethwaite - while the earlier arrivals headed into Keswick for the sales and some gear shopping...

Later we swapped exciting stories of the day over another delicious dinner at the Langstrath Inn.

Marian and I swapped levels today, so the High level walk headed off up Greenup Edge towards the Langdale Pikes with Marian.

The weather was fine and showed a lot of promise.

The many small waterfalls of Greenup Gill were beautiful as they climbed the path to the head of the valley.

Once on the top they could stride out across the peaty moor past Whitestones, and up to High Raise where they got out the 1:40,000 map and identified all the peaks in the 360 degree vista you get from this point.

After their break they continued across the High Moor to Thunacar Knott and the Langdale Pikes.

Here they climbed Harrison Stickle, taking in the striking view of Great Langdale and the sea in the far distance.

Starting back towards Borrowdale, they took the path over Martcragg Moor to Stake Pass, then down into the wild but beautiful Langstrath valley.

Walking beside waterfalls, rapids, and pools, their path brought them directly back into Stonethwaite. A great day out.

I had meanwhile taken the Intermediate walk up Tongue Gill next to the slate mines, where we stopped for a break in the sunshine.

We continued up to High Spy, where the views back towards Scafell Pike and Great Gable were shrouded in low cloud, but could just about see where the high level group would be going.

The weather stayed much the same for the walk across Maiden Moor.

However, but the views across to Robinson and Brandreth were still quite impressive and the views from Bull Crag down across Derwent water were beautiful.

Overlooking Bassenthwaite and Cat Bells seemed like a good place to stop for lunch so whilst some women sat out on the tops, others sheltered behind the rock.

Thankfully the sunshine appeared for the rest of the day, giving superb views from Cat Bells summit, making it worth the extra effort of reaching it and deserving another sweetie treat.

There were quite a number of women who were happy to reach the flatness of the road after the steep descent as their knees were struggling slightly with the gradient.

A short walk along the road brought us to the tea shop in Grange, where we ate cake and drank tea and hot chocolate.

Some of the group caught the bus back to the Langstrath from here, while others ambled back with me next to the river.

Another delicious meal and sharing in the day's delights was followed by a visit to the bar and a relatively early night.

There had been a plan A and B, but this quickly went to plan C as the weather forecast was quite grim.

Marian took the intermediate group on a circular gill walk, while I set out with the High level along the Allerdale Ramble on the other side of the valley, before ascending to Watendlath.

After an enjoyable stop in the Caffle House Tearoom by the edge of the tarn, we headed down next towards Lodore Falls and found a nice place to stop for lunch next to the river.

After lunch, we made our way across the boardwalks to Manesty Park then cut back through the woodland and down the road into Grange.

It seemed too early for another tea break, so anyone wanting to get the bus back or pop into Keswick did so and the rest of us walked back.

This time we took the higher route along the Allerdale Ramble next to Castle Crag, crossing over Tongue Gill bridge with misty views over Borrowdale.

Across the fields, over the river and along the footpath into Rosthwaite was enough of a jaunt to deserve another cup of tea, this time a pint for some!

The rain just stayed away, allowing everyone to return to Langstrath with dry clothes, which is more than can be said for the intermediate group!

Marian's Intermediate walk had headed up Grains Gill - a great intermediate walk that takes you up among the peaks but stays out of the wind. Unfortunately, it didn't keep them out of the rain!

The gills and waterfalls were in spate after a night of rain, but once on the top they crossed the top end of Ruddy Gill where it was braided into several channels - each channel being easily crossed.

From here they walked down behind Great End past Sprinkling Tarn to Styhead Tarn - where there were people wild camping. Some women thought they could smell bacon frying!

They stopped for lunch at Styhead Tarn, and from here they could see folk heading up the Corridor route into the Scafell range.

The weather being wild, they didn't sit for long, but headed down the path beside Styhead Gill and over the footbridges back to Seathwaite just as Mountain Rescue arrived in the hamlet.

After a group photo at Stockley Bridge, hot drinks and cake beckoned from the tea room at Seathwaite Farm.

Just as they got their hot drinks, a group from Manchester arrived looking ill-equipped and bedraggled.

One member looked borderline hypothermic and appeared to have no money, so the women gave him a spare cup of tea. The rest of the group looked as though they had been swimming fully clad...

After hot showers, we congregated in the Langstrath bar for a drink before dinner.

The last morning dawned and as some women were leaving early to make their way back home, the group was happy enough to do one walk today suitable for both levels (and the intermediate group were all pretty strong walkers).

We drove out to Grange and all walked up onto Kings How through the water meadows and birch woods past the old Yew tree, and the plaque in memory of the abdicated king.

We got great views from the top of Kings How and had a proper group photo.

Rather than return the way we had come, we walked across Jopplety How and met the Watendlath bridleway.

We turned downhill here to visit the Bowderstone - a huge erratic boulder perched on its edge. From here it was a short way back to Grange.

Some women drove straight home from here while others detoured back to the Langstrath Inn to change clothes and have something to eat before travelling. Spirits still high despite the rain!