‘Near certain’ did you say? Well, clicking on our website’s link to the BBC Forecast for several days had shown us that the weather men and women at any rate were convinced of it – sun, sun and sun for morning, midday and afternoon. Too tempting to turn down a window like this! The sheep were enjoying it also, playing ‘King of the Castle’ on the hay store as we walked down the lane to Martindale’s Foe Green.

We wanted to fit in a recce for a May day walk I’m planning for members of the Ski Club of Manchester on the SE side of Ullswater. High Street dominates here and it must be one of the longest in the country. It lies to the east (and on the left) in the photo of Howe Grain opposite.

High Street gets its name from the Romans’ use of it and has plenty to attract visitors. But you don’t need to spend any money here to get some the best value walking and views in the Lake District National Park.

It runs north to south and has a series of high ridges which spread like podgy fingers down to the SE corner of Ullswater. The route we chose (see the four photos below), starting at Martindale Church, takes in three of the fingers and finally Hollin Fell with its glorious views up and down the lake.

The first photo shows the stone bridge over Boredale Beck below Howsteadbrow after a descent from the church. The second is looking back from below Sleet Fell across Boredale on the route we have taken. In the far distance is High Street.

The third and fourth are taken after we have dropped down and passed through the little settlement of Sandwick. The view on the left is from below Hallin Fell looking SW towards Sheffield Pike and the snow covered Helvellyn range; and then lastly comes the obelisk at the top of Hallin Fell, looking NNE up Ullswater, with High Street to the right. From here the route takes you straight down a wide green path to the Martindale church car park. Allow about 35 – 40 minutes to get here by car from The Larches.

It’s not been great for driving and hundreds have been treated after falls on icy pavements and roads. But for children the snow has been a treat as this picture opposite shows as a young girl and her mother race down Coledale Common on a Christmas Day toboggan.

The second picture shows Skiddaw on Christmas day with a fine cover of snow. We remember it last like this sixteen years ago (see below), with snow covering the road outside The Larches and a snowy background behind. Though the front hedge at The Larches looks a little different, not much else has changed in Seldom Seen. It’s still a quiet retreat away from it all with marvellous views of the distant fells.

Yesterday at the height of the holiday season I was passing High Coledale at 8 o’clock with only the sheep and birds as companions. On a blustery morning with bright sunshine, riffs of colour and shade played on the brackened fellside as the clouds bustled and billowed above. Magical. No wonder our niece, Claire insisted on climbing Barrow on her wedding morning.

Don’t tell everyone about it – or it will get ‘super-model’ attention and no quiet mornings – but make sure you get up there before you leave. Full details and an accompanying slide show of photos are on the website’s walking section under The Barrow Round – high tops and valley bottoms.