as we head for Smardale this cow heads resolutely the other way

we started in rain but it is rapidly clearing to sunshine

looking up Smardale to the Howgill fells

Smardale Bridge with some of the Howgills in the distance

lunch stop at the old lime kiln in Smardale

Small Skippers - recently spread north into Cumbria

Small Heath on a Harebell

Scotch Argus here at the south of its range and quite rare in Cumbria

flash shot of the same obligingly posing Scotch Argus

looking down Smardale from the old viaduct

photographing the viaduct and the view up Smardale to the Howgills

Common Blue butterfly ..

.. and again on a thistle ..

.. and obligingly opening its wings

viaduct of the Settle to Carlisle railway crossing Smardale

ford on the return track - fortunately there was a footbridge ..

.. but not across these big puddles on the track

fording the river at Crosby Garrett

tea stop above Crosby Garrett looking east to the Pennines

zooming in on Cross Fell and the Dun fells with Dufton Pike in sunshine in front

approaching the top of Nettle Hill looking back to the Pennines

Wild Boar Fell from Nettle Hill summit

Nettle Hill summit looking towards the Pennines

descending from Nettle Hill

the Howgills from the descent from Nettle Hill ..

.. and again from further down as the valley comes into view