We met up at the famous Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel (known as the ODG) - famous in the history of climbing and walking in The Lake District - right at the heart of Langdale and surrounded by beautiful mountains.

The sun came out after several days of heavy rain and we were to be completely blessed by 4 perfect days of sunshine with hardly a cloud in the sky.

We were from all over the country and beyond including Australia via Guernsey, the Isle of White and South Africa.

A fine day dawned!

Marcelle & I chose to alternate grades each day so as to walk with each both groups.

Today, after a hearty breakfast both groups started together - to give the women a chance to decide which length and pace of walk they would prefer.

We left the hotel in bright autumn sunshine and followed the valley path to the start of the steep, relentless ascent of Stickle Ghyll to Stickle Tarn with Pavey Ark towering above in the background.

I (Ellie) took the High Level walk up the steep but rewarding path to Pavey Ark (sorry, hardly any high photos today - please sent yours!)

We ate lunch overlooking the Langdale valley and could see Ingleborough in the Yorkshire Dales and the sea at Morecombe bay from our viewpoint on top of Harrison Stickle.

After lunch we walked over to Pike O' Stickle and along the ridge over Martcrag Moor to Stake Pass.

Here we descended into Mickleden valley and we met some beautiful horses with soft snouts. The route then led us back to the Old Dungeon Ghyll and a welcome drink at the Hikers' bar out in the sunshine.

Intermediate Walk: Turning our back on the Langdale Pikes, the rest of us with me, Marcelle, had climbed up onto Blea Rigg.

Blea Rigg is a crag that gives its name to the lovely undulating ridge that borders the northern side of the Great Langdale valley.

As we walked along the ridge we had fab views back to the Langdale Pikes and down into Great Langdale.

From part way along, a steep descent brought us quickly down into Chapel Stile, where tea and cake at Brambles Café was obligatory!

The route back to the hotel took us along the Cumbrian Way and Great Langdale Beck, and through a field of Herdwick rams!

The day dawned bright and sunny heralding fabulous visibility for our High Level walk (with me, Marcelle) around the Coniston Fells.

Passing Little Langdale Tarn, the track veered south to Low Tilberthwaite Cottages before ascending adjacent to Tilberthwaite Ghyll with its waterfalls and Rowan trees.

We had a brief rest at Dry Core Bottom before starting the traverse of Bork Fell Man to the start of Wetherlam Edge.

Wetherlam Edge is a 200m rocky ascent to reach the summit of Wetherlam.

From here we had superb, far-reaching views of Coniston Old Man, Langdale Pikes, Scafell and Scafell Pike.

From the summit we contoured, then descended to the saddle above Levers Water, and ascended Prison Band to Swirl How. Our route gave us striking views of Great Carrs and Little Carrs crags.

We stopped to inspect the memorial of an aircraft that crashed here in 1945 during WW 2.

The grassy slope of Wet Side Edge was a welcome relief to weary feet. Finally we crossed River Brathay to reach the cars and were back in the Hikers' Bar within 15 minutes!

The Intermediate walk for the day (with Ellie) was along Langdale to Chapel Stile then up over Lingmoor Fell.

It began with two of us getting wet feet in boggy bits.

I then found a wallet containing £50 (now returned to its owner who happily told me it was the second he had lost in a week!) There is an old tale about stepping in muck and having good fortune...

At Chapel stile we looked in the church to see the Millenium Tapestry, made by local people, including the primary school children, which tells the history of Langdale over the last several thousand years. It is beautiful work and tells the story well.

We climbed up through the Slate Quarries with views back to the Pikes, then onto heather covered Lingmoor.

Again we had beautiful views in all directions and were spoilt for choice which way to face when resting to see the best view.

Before Side Pike we all squeezed through 'Fat Person's Agony' (which Sue B has renamed 'the Squeeze') then up to our last 'top'. It had been another perfect Lake District Day.

Today the Intermediate walk with me (Marcelle) was to climb the Langdale Pikes!

Leaving the hotel on a cloudier day, we traversed along the hillside passing the tumbling waterfalls in the Old Dungeon ghyll.

Crossing a stile was the start of the ascent of the Langdale Pikes via Loft Crag.

On reaching Loft Crag we could see Pike O Stickle (left), but turned right initially to climb Harrison Stickle.

We were rewarded with magnificent views across Pavey Ark and down to Stickle tarn from Harrision Stickle.

After a leisurely lunch stop, our walk continued past Pike O'Stickle, and along Martcrag Moor to Stake Pass.

During our steep, zig-zagging descent wide vistas of the whole of the Great Langdale valley opened before us.

After a short break beside the river, we sauntered down Mickleden back to the hotel in time for a welcome drink in the bar!

The High Level group were feeling fit and happy and decided that they would like to go up Scafell Pike today, please!

It's a long walk and high, but with perfect weather and good views promised - it was too good an opportunity to miss.

We walked up Stake Pass and over to Angle Tarn for a more gentle start to the day. We took rests at some of the walker-built shelters, stone walls shaped like crosses so that which ever way the wind blows you are sheltered from it. There's a large one at Esk Hause.

After that the route meanders up Calf Cove and along Broad Crag before the final drop and climb up to Scafell Pike.

The views made the day. On the way up we were told that there was cheese and wine at the top and lo and behold there was a book launch going on for a re-publishing of a book about the first ascent of Scafell Pike.

After a little Chardonnay (!) the way back felt much shorter and one woman bought the book and carried it down.

We rested in one of the many summit shelters before returning the same way. Even though it was sunny we needed hats and some wore gloves while we sat still and cooled down.

The views looked new on the return route. After a break near Angle Tarn, we decided to take the Rossett Ghyll descent into Mickleden.

From the bottom, some headed straight back for a hot shower, while others paused to paddle in the ghyll to refresh their tired feet.

Ice cold water on tired toes...'It's better than sex!' one woman uttered... That evening we were tired and had a real sense of satisfaction at what had been achieved. We had done very well!

Another sunny start to the final day. We said goodbye to one or two women with longer journeys who were leaving early.

Both groups walked together today, and we decided to stay lower and flatter to rest our aching legs - overstretched in both walks yesterday!

We took the route past Blea Tarn into Little Langdale with everyone chatting and inspecting various specimens of fungi we found.

We could see Wetherlam, the Langdales and Lingmoor so it was a good chance to compare notes on what the other group had been doing.

Passing a Viking ting (place where the Viking leaders held meetings), we crossed Slater's Bridge, a fine example of a packhorse bridge and weaved our way across country before entering Elterwater.

A short drink break at the Britannia Inn revitalised us for the final leg along the Cumbrian Way back to the Hotel and our farewells.