We arrived in beautiful weather to Glenthorne in Grasmere - slanting sun casting long shadows, golden light, brilliant green foliage...

And, unfortunately, a forecast that this wouldn't last! The UK was facing another wet weekend on top of all the previous flooding.

So we took the opportunity for a fine evening walk after dinner before the rain arrived. Inevitably the walk ended at the pub!

On the way we saw a beautiful owl perched on a street light, and 2 owls perched on a low branch on the way back.

We woke to mizzly rain - not heavy - but low clouds, however heavier rain was supposed to be on the way.

We described today's walks to everyone over breakfast, then split into two groups - one gentle, one low intermediate.

We all drove over the hill to Elterwater - to have more shelter from the strong winds that were forecast, and even more tea shop possibilities in case the rain really was heavy.

I took the Gentle walk. We set off for Little Langdale, taking the byway up and over to descend near Little Langdale Tarn.

The tarn was very atmospheric with hills rising into the mist on three sides.

We walked down to Slaters Bridge - an original packhorse bridge.

Sara and the Low Intermediate walk caught up with us at that point - they'd taken a slightly different route to get there.

We walked together to Cathedral Cave - stunning with its supporting pillar, a wonderful way to get out of the increasingly heavy rain.

From here the Gentle walk circled back towards Elterwater via the Shires Inn - for hot chocolate and a chance to eat the rest of our sandwiches in the dry.

The woods were beautiful with moss and ferns as we took the path to Chapel Stile, detouring to see impressive Elterwater Quarry on the way.

No views of the Langdale Pikes today, but we did visit the Millenium Tapestry in Chapel Stile church - a wonderful collage of Langdale life through the ages.

From Cathedral Cave, Sara's Low Intermediate walk had continued down the Cumbria Way to Skelwith Bridge.

At Skelwith Bridge tea and cake were indulged in under the outdoor umbrellas!

From here they walked back via Skelwith Force - which was very impressive after all the recent rain.

A little further on they reached Elterwater.

Right beside the water were 2 swans, one had two cygnets on her back. Sadly, there was a third cygnet who was dead in the grass - who they wouldn't leave...

We all arrived back at Glenthorne in time to change into dry clothes before tea and cake in the lounge. Some of us talked till dinner time, while others strolled into Grasmere for a little retail therapy!

Dinner was delicious - as usual at Glenthorne - following which we decided on the next day's walks, then played Scrabble, Jenga, and Uno while others talked.

2 women went to a 60's evening in the village for the cost of £10 - by all accounts they had a pretty wild time dancing all evening!

We woke to absolutely torrential rain - rather than the sun and showers which had been forecast!

Glenthorne staff were happy for us to keep 2 rooms for changing/showers after walking, before our journeys home - might be needed!

After packing up we set off - on a low intermediate walk to Easedale Tarn, or on a gentle walk around Grasmere finishing via White Moss Common.

Sara took the Low Intermediate walk up Easedale, climbing steadily to Sour Milk Gill waterfall - which was stupendous after all the rain.

Continuing on they reached Easedale Tarn nestling in the hills.

The water was too high over the stepping stones below the tarn for them to cross here, so they tried circling around the tarn.

No chance to cross the intake stream either! So in the end they returned via the waterfall again.

The rain came and went - a few heavy showers, and they arrived back in time to change and have a cup of tea before leaving.

I had meantime taken the Gentle walk along Langdale Road and up the bridle path through Huntingstile woods to the top of Loughrigg Terrace.

The views over Grasmere from the terrace were superb.

We stopped for a break - light rain started but we were well waterproofed - then walked down to the woods between the Grasmere and Rydal Water.

The river between the lakes was very full and flowing fast.

Up the other side of the valley we detoured up a tiny path onto White Moss Common - a lovely quiet viewpoint over Rydal Water.

Here we stopped a bit longer for lunch before continuing on our way, back past Wordsworth's Dove Cottage into Grasmere.

Once back at Glenthorne, the skies opened while we sat having a last cup of tea together.

Everyone was saying what a good w/e they'd had despite the rain. In the end, women dashed for their cars between the showers!