This was always going to be the most challenging part of the route, and it definitely proved so with the weather deteriorating after lunch.  We had three biggish hills to climb over today each of which sported a lovely boggy top, so gaiters and snorkles was the order of the day!

The first climb over the shoulder of  Dunsop was pretty good, with a little heatherly sliding downhill the other side to reach the lovely Whitendale and coffee.  After coffee we tackled Ouster Rake the second climb before joining the tourists down in the Trough of Bowland.

We couldn't resist the tea van so lunch was called alongside all the cyclists and bikers who make this their regular haunt - can't say I blame them!

The final climb was uncannily like the walk we did in January with Dave - in fact it was the walk we did in January with Dave - just the other way round!  We climbed the long valley of Langden Brook, passed by the castle which looks nothing like a castle to me, then carried on up to Fiendsdale Head, Fair Snape and then Parlick Fell.

The name Fiendsdale and Fair Snape conjour up images of exactly what they are - fiendish places with many a bog to capture the unsuspecting walker. I spent a good five minutes trying to extract my leg from a man eating hole - just in time to fall down another!

The rain decided to join us in torrents at this stage, but luckily we had already found the fenceline which would guide us safely all the way to Chipping.  A mini bus to take you back to the start has never looked so good (although I am not sure what it looked like after we left it - sorry about that!)

Surprisingly, a good time was had by all!