Just moving off from the stone circle at Castlerigg. We’ve got more than 60 people here – we’ve been looking down at St John’s in the Vale, over the Dodds and High Rigg and Low Rigg, some of the iconic and beautifully-named hills, and Blencathra is way back behind me at the moment. I can’t believe the weather – it’s just amazingly good – very high cloud, beautiful blue sky, strong sunlight for this time of year, throwing sharp shadows on some of the rocky outcrops. Looking from here makes you realise how much more rugged the north lakes are compared to the south and I think that’s why I prefer them. We’ve got a lot of great walking to do but this is just a gentle start on the old coach road between High Rigg and Low Rigg and back down St John’s in the Vale to Threlkeld, and we’ll be in the Salutation Inn by 5 o’clock. Hope to see you there.” JJ