Leader Derek reports as follows –

Only Frank and I braved the elements of wind and rain for this low-level walk. We set off from Little Salkeld in spitting rain and a good following wind. The riverside path was quite firm but treacherous in places, the innocent looking surface underlain by hidden icy patches, so we had to be very wary. Our first stop was Lacy's Caves which we duly explored. As Frank remarked the sandstone rooms would have made a good stop for lunch - shame we were some three hours early!

We left the riverside at Eden Bridge near Lazonby and were soon in Kirkoswald. From there we followed the swollen Raven Beck for two miles until reaching Renwick. After skirting Renwick Fell en route for Croglin we stopped for a coffee break at the deserted farmhouse of Dyrah. Here we managed to disturb a pair of roosting owls in an old barn. I don't know who was the more alarmed, the birds or us. We then passed the muddy environs of Scale House Farm and Davygill before stopping for lunch in a small dark wood. It was so dark you could hardly see what you were eating but at least it was dry.

After lunch we passed through sleepy Croglin and then headed into the wind and rain in a south-westerly direction. By this time the ground had softened considerably and the mud was increasing - Jim would have loved it! We passed Nunnery House and Staffield Hall before once again reaching Kirkoswald. The light was deteriorating - it had never been good - and so we decided to push on as quickly as we could by road to Glassonby. If you've walked with Frank then you'll know how quick that was. After Glassonby it was once more through muddy fields until we arrived at  ‘Long Meg and her Daughters’  in the gathering gloom. Then it was all down hill back to Little Salkeld.