The Lake District was clothed in bluebells and all different shades of green as we arrived at Glenthorne Guest House in Grasmere - for the first Lesbian Break in Spring.

We gathered in the garden as women arrived and settled into their rooms - chatting, drinking tea, and starting to learn each others names.

Many women were keen for a shortish stroll with Pam & Gaynor before dinner to get to know their surroundings, while I waited for more arrivals.

The bell then rang for dinner - which is always delicious at Glenthorne, and afterwards we talked about the next day's walks in the lounge over tea and coffee.

Some women found the table tennis table, others played Jenga, and there was a small sortie to the pub.

Most however were tired after their journeys and glad to get to bed early...

We woke to glorious sunshine and blue skies.

After breakfast, we split into different groups for different levels of walks.

Marcelle was replacing a guide on another holiday for the weekend and would join us later that evening, so we had three walks on offer today: Gentle, Low Intermediate, and Intermediate.

I (Diana) took the Intermediate walk, and we headed up the Easedale valley to Easedale tarn, aiming for the Blea Rigg ridge above.

Everyone was very evenly paced, and we had plenty of time to take in the gorgeous scenery around us.

The fells were just 'greening' with new bracken fronds, hawthorn trees were laden with blossom, lambs frolicked in the fields....

We chose the higher of the two paths from the tarn, reaching the ridge above Blea Rigg crag.

On reaching the ridge we stopped for lunch with fabulous views of the Langdale Pikes.

We then walked down this wonderful undulating ridge enjoying the views to each side. Our path brought us back to Glenthorne.

Pam's Low Intermediate walk had meantime headed in the other direction, up the road above Grasmere lake to reach the top of Loughrigg Terrace.

This lovely path runs across the flank of Loughrigg Fell with fab views over Grasmere.

Continuing on, they reached Rydal cave above Rydal Water for lunch, then walked 'Under Loughrigg' beside the River Rothay to the edge of Ambleside.

Here they turned back and soon entered Rydal Hall grounds - a lovely stretch of park land ending with a tea room stop near Rydal Beck.

Refreshed, they now took the Coffin Trail back to Grasmere.

This is an old corpse route used in the past to take the dead to Grasmere church. The hawthorne trees are very special this year.

The Gentle walk with Gaynor had taken a shorter loop in the same direction, purely around the two lakes.

After lunch at Rydal Cave they cut down and walked through bluebell woods to reach the bridge over the river at Rydal.

They explored Rydal Hall meditation garden full of tulips, and had a break for tea at Rydal Hall.

Back at Grasmere we were all in time for tea and cake in the garden, chatting about our respective walks.

After another good dinner, we again planned the next day's walks over coffee, followed by table tennis, or talking in the lounge.

Another stunning morning - blue skies again, and a forecast of light showers which never materialised.

Marcelle had arrived the previous evening, so we had 4 walks on offer today.

Marcelle took the High Level walk up Fairfield via Stone Arthur - the most direct route from Grasmere.

Up up up steeply they zigzagged through the young bracken, then onto grass till they reached this rocky outcrop.

Here they took a break, then the gradient got easier towards Great Rigg - the point where two ridges met.

Turning now towards the summit of Fairfield they had stunning views towards Skiddaw and Blencathra, the Solway Firth, and all the Central Fells.

Finally they reached the summit and the views trebled. They had lunch in the shelter, then continued around the Horseshoe.

Their return route took them over Hart Crag, then down the High Crag ridge to Sweden Bridge and Ambleside. After a stop for tea and cake, they caught the bus back to Grasmere.

I had meantime taken the Intermediate walk in the same direction - to Heron Pike, via Alcock Tarn.

We followed a lovely old Victorian path up the hillside with superb views back over Grasmere.

After a rest at the tarn, we continued uphill, this time off-path on grass - up up up to the ridge at Heron Pike. A tough climb!

After lunch overlooking Grasmere, we turned down the ridge towards Rydal Water. Windermere lay ahead of us and we had magnificent views.

At the bottom we stopped for tea at Rydal Hall, then finished our walk around the far side of Rydal Water and through the woods...

The Low Intermediate and Gentle walks had meantime headed over the hill by car to Elterwater and had walked from there to Little Langdale.

Here they descended to Slater Bridge and visitied nearby Cathedral Cave.

Gaynor's low intermediate walk now left the Cumbria Way to head towards High Tilberthwaite through the woods.

Here they circled around to reach the little reservoir near Holme Fell - a perfect spot for lunch.

Their return route took them past Hodge Close where the bottom of a deep quarry is filled with water reflecting the sky - a blue lagoon.

Back through the woods and across the river and fields beyond, they stopped at the Three Shires Inn for ice cream or tea.

Now there was just a shortish stretch to do back to Elterwater, returning over the shoulder of Lingmoor Fell via a different route.

Pam's Gentle walk had meantime stayed on the Cumbria Way through Little Langdale, and followed it to Colwith Force (waterfall).

They followed the Cumbria Way to Skelwith Bridge where there is an excellent tea room with great cakes!

Their final stretch took them along the River Brathay past Elterwater back to Elterwater village.

We all met up back at Glenthorne for more tea and cake in the garden, then showers before dinner.

After dinner there were more games, table tennis, or a trip to the pub for some.

We woke to another gorgeous morning!

Marcelle took the high level walk again, this time onto the Langdale Pikes from the New Dungeon Ghyll in Great Langdale.

They climbed steadily up the path to Stickle Tarn, had a break here, then continued steeply up onto Pavey Ark.

They had fabulous views all around, particularly down over the tarn below as they walked across Pavey Ark to Harrison Stickle.

Now the views included more of Great Langdale below, and Crinkle Crags and Bow Fell to the west.

They lunched here, then descended to cross the stream below, and climb again onto Pike O Stickle.

Their descent took them over Martcrag Moor to Stake Pass where they had another break in the sun by the tarn.

From here they zigzaged down into Mickleden - a huge and magnificent U-shaped valley.

The walk finished with a drink at the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel back in Great Langdale.

I had meantime taken the Intermediate walk up Helm Crag.

An initial, relatively steep pull up brought us to Helm Crag itself where we stopped for a break.

From here we continued along the ridge - loosing height initially, then steadily regaining it over a series of dragon-back humps to reach Calf Crag.

We had lunch sheltered from the wind, then finished the ridge to the saddle, and walked back down Far Easedale valley, enjoying its wildness and pretty waterfalls.

The Low Intermediate walk with Gaynor had today headed for Easedale Tarn which involved more uphill than before, but less distance.

They had a lovely time, stopping for a break on the way at Sour Milk Gill waterfall. Lots of laughing and joking.

At the tarn they took a break for lunch in the sun.

They walked around the tarn then headed down over the shoulder of Grasmere Common into Far Easedale.

On the way back they detoured to Langcrigg for tea and cake.

Then on the way home they detoured across the river to arrive back to Glenthorne over the fields.

Pam had meantime taken the Gentle walk by car to St Johns in the Vale - a beautiful stretch of valley beyond Thirlmere.

They walked through the valley to the River Greta, then along the Greta a way.

Some headed back to the car, while others continued all the way along the disused railway track into Keswick.

They all met up in Keswick for tea and cake, a little shopping, and a stroll down to Derwent Water. A great day was had by all.

Back at Glenthorne, we were planning a party tonight! Women went down to the Co-op for extra drinks.

After dinner, the party got going, chatting in the lounge, or dancing till the small hours in the conservatory.

Our last walking day, though some women where a little fragile in the morning!

Marcelle and the High Level walk were headed for Helvellyn - the second highest mountain in England.

It was a long haul up to Grisedale Tarn, then more beyond up Dollywaggon Pike, but finally they reached the gentler path over Nethermost Pike to the summit of Helvellyn.

From here they had fabulous views over Striding Edge and out towards Ulswater. There was also space in the rock shelter for lunch.

Their descent took them down the stepped path towards the head of Thirlmere where we had left Marcelle's car that morning.

They had time for a drink at the Kings Head before driving back to Glenthorne.

The Intermediate walk had meantime been up the Langdale Pikes by the Loft Crag path - a different route from the High walk the day before.

The views were superb the whole way up, and from where we had lunch on the top of Harrison Stickle.

We crossed to Pike O Stickle and 3 women came up with me to the top of the Pike by an easy scramble.

Our route from here was over Martcrag Moor to Stake Pass, then down along the Cumbria Way back to Old Dungeon Ghyll where we'd left our cars.

After all that walking, refreshment at the ODG was essential before driving back to Grasmere!

The Low Intermediate walk with Gaynor had been a circuit of Loughrigg Fell - starting along the shore of the Grasmere and past Rydal Cave.

From here they walked up over the shoulder of Loughrigg Fell to descend along the bridle path to Loughrigg Tarn.

This pretty tarn has a striking view of the Langdale Pikes further down the valley.

From here they walked up through the bluebell woods past Langdale YH to cross back over the ridge and back down to Grasmere.

Pam's Gentle walk had started from Elterwater again, a lovely circuit of the Great Langdale starting through the woods to bring them in sight of the Langdale Pikes.

They crossed the valley then started back to Elterwater.

Their return route followed river and brought them to Chapel Stile - where they stopped to see the Millenium Tapestry in the village church.

That evening there was great jubilation among the Manchester United supporters when United won the Moscow match. Meanwhile the rest of us had an excellent quiz - resulting in a complete dead heat!

Marcelle and Gaynor did a great sale of WalkingWomen buffs at breakfast this morning.

Some women had to leave early, but most of us walked - at least for part of the morning.

While Marcelle and Gaynor took a walk up Loughrigg Fell, the rest of us headed for Greenburn - a little-walked gem of a valley behind Helm Crag.

Back at Glenthorne there was time for a cup of tea before hugs and journeys home.

We had had 5 days of wonderful weather and a great group to share it with!