Summit Picnic with a View

The climb is steady rather than brutal — long grassy slopes, a few steeper pulls, then a broad top with room to sit without clinging to a precipice. We spread a small blanket, poured tea, and ate cheese sandwiches while River lay with her chin on my boot and watched sheep in the next field pretend they hadn't noticed her.

A family arrived from the other direction and shared a bag of carrots. River accepted one politely, which is not her usual approach to food offered by strangers. High altitude manners, perhaps.

Trail notes

• Allow 3–4 hours with breaks — we took longer because the picnic was non-negotiable
• No bins at the top; pack everything out
• Windy on the summit even when calm below — hold onto hats
• Sheep grazing in season — lead required, give wide berth

We descended slowly, full and happy. River slept before we reached the main road.