Inaugural OFC dinner and talk
Fellbarrow 1363'(7.32 FRCC 219) and Low Fell 1387' (7.33 FRCC 216)
 

Weather :- At least 7 different types of rain.
Drizzle (that was the best), Torrential (that was the worst), and loads of different intensities and angles of rain inbetween !!!!

Accompanied by :- Other members of the OFC Online Fellwalking Club

Total Distance :- 7.5 Miles, total height ascended 1600'
 

Todays walk was arranged by Roger Hiley of the OFC as part of the inaugral OFC dinner and talk, or as I like to say walk and talk. Originally the walk that was planned was based on Hopegill Head and Whiteside but the forcasted weather conditions meant that an alternaive low level walk had to be considered.
After regrouping all people together at Oak Cottage and enjoying some fantastic light refreshments we set off on a replanned route around Fellbarrow and Low Fell.

Unfortunatley the forcasted rain never let up all day and at times it was windy, a wise descision not to venture onto the higher fell tops I think.

Jo, Mike,John P, John, Pam, Chris, Terry, Andy, Roger and myself plus Megan, Polly, Harry and Bethan the dogs at the start of the walk outside Oak Cottage, Loweswater
Low Fell through the rain from Oak Cottage
Heading along the road to Thackthwaite
A brief stop outside Thackthwaite House for some to remove waterproof trousers
Heading up towards the start of the old drove road
And further along
Heading up the eastern shoulder of Smithy Fell
Fellbarrow
Assorted members of the OFC at Fellbarrow summit
Two of the locals at play on Fellbarrow
Fellbarrow summit cairn and Trig Point
Heading down towards Smithy Fell and onwards towards Low Fell
Nearing Low Fell summit in worsening weather conditions
The start of the steep descent off Low Fell
The steep descent
Following the leader through waist high bracken back towards civilization
The GPS track log from the walk

A very wet day but I thing everyone enjoyed the walk. For my part I enjoyed seeing all the different expressions on peoples faces, wry smiles, silly grins but above all a quizical sort of look that spoke volumes
"Why are we doing this, we must be mad!"

Not mad as such, just a group of like minded individuals enjoying the fells in some of Lakelands wettest weather for a while.

 
That concluded the walk but not the day as Roger had arranged for a talk by Hunter Davies, the Biographer of A.Wainwright, held in the Kirkstile Inn followd by a rather nice meal and drink or two.
Roger introducing Hunter Davies at the Kirkstile Inn
Hunter talking about some of the unusual items that he has collected about AW during his research