Mist, mountains and morning coffee: a Lake District adventure

I’ll let this image speak for a moment, before I tell you anything about my small, but memorable adventure from earlier this week.

Few short hikes have ever rewarded me with such an incredible view to admire whilst sipping that first cup of coffee of the day!

We left the house at 3:45 and after a few hiccups (low tire pressure warnings, driving back home to get coins for the machine at the petrol station since card payments didn’t work and we had no money with us or anywhere to exchange them)… and finally reached Honnister Slate Mine at 5am. From there, we followed the path towards Fleetwith Pike, having abandoned the plan to reach Haystacks in time for the sunrise.

We walked without torches (DON’T follow our example if the visibility is reduced) on the rugged path illuminated by a sliver of the moon and few stars. The mountain was enveloped in peaceful silence, interrupted by the occasional bleating of sheep scattered across the fells, and my audible sighs (I wake up early, but not that early, ok?). When we talked, we did so in hushed voices, respecting the reverent quietude of this early morning (and the sleep of a few wild campers).

Once there, we laid our blanket, and Ben started preparing our tea and coffee whilst I lost my God damn mind at the sight of the fog across the valley (honestly, I cannot think of anything more beautiful than fog covering a forest or a mountain peak and I will squeal will delight and tell you constantly how damn amazing that is).

We sipped our drinks and ate our humble breakfast whilst talking about life so close to The Lake District and how little time we spent here this year, with promises of repeated returns.