Vivienne Crow finds contentment on the fells

SOMETIMES, you just have to snatch a dose of the hills when the chance presents itself. It might be only a few miles, maybe retracing routes walked before; taking advantage of a weather window or a few spare hours during a busy period. I rarely expect great things from such occasions – they’re simply an opportunity to blow off cobwebs, recharge fell batteries, regain perspective – but they can sometimes surprise.

Standing at the top of the steep path leading directly from Cow Bridge to the Hartsop above How ridge, I looked around: how was it not raining? Everywhere