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Date & Time: Wednesday 15th March 2006. 1.15pm start. Location of Start : White Moss, Grasmere ( NY 350 065 ) Places visited : White Moss, Grasmere, Loughrigg Terrace, Cave and Badger Bar. Walk details : 2.9 mls, 650 ft of ascent, time - longer than expected. Walked with : Ann and the dogs. Weather : Grey turning blue, windy turning calm. Temperature above freezing. |
As the snow was fast disappearing from Loweswater we decided to have a quick look over Dunmail Rise as they say the weather was different there. The dogs needed a walk and I think I was suffering from snow deprivation syndrome. High Rigg Panorama from the A 591. The weather reports were right. As soon as we passed Keswick the fields started to take on that winter mantle again.
The Snow on Dunmail Rise had been thick enough to close the road in the last few days, and the countryside here was a lot different to Loweswater, that's for sure.
We drove back onto the main road and parked on the National Trust car park beyond the lake and decided to walk Loughrigg Terrace, maybe to the cave, or even to the summit if it was suitable. Who knows where we would end up ? Delightful River Rothay . . . horrible paths The snow looked an absolute delight, here was a pristine, white winter wonderland, but in truth the snow was melting fast and it was six inches of near slush on the paths. This made it very slippery and very slow going. Plans for the summit were put on hold. Two "slush puppies" taking the wrong route. (couldn't resist that one !) We stayed on the near bank rather than cross over, and then made our way towards the lake. Baneriggs Wood with the river down to our left.
Loughrigg Terrace was supposed to be more or less level but every slight up and down variation became exaggerated in these slippery conditions.
A sudden level piece of ground announced that we had reached Loughrigg Cave, an old slate quarry. The level ground was part of the old spoil heap. Loughrigg Cave - winter wonderland - framed.
Deeper inside, Ann gives scale to this large man made cavern.
" Papillion " ( French for butterfly )
Nab Scar from the Rydal path. Click here or on the image for a larger and better view. Down to Rydal Water looking back towards Silver How and High Raise in the distance.
The weather on our return journey was considerably nicer than on the way over so we diverted around the other side of Thirlmere in order to get better views of Helvellyn.
So we turned and retraced out route and had this fine view of Steel Fell on the way back to the main road. St John's in the Vale and Blencathra beyond. Colour was returning to the valley as we travelled north from Dunmail Rise. By the time we got back to Loweswater only the high fells were showing signs of the recent snow. A complete change of climate, one side of the Lakes to the other.
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- - - o o o - - - Technical note: Pictures taken with a Canon IXUS 400 Digital camera. Resized in Photoshop, and built up on a Dreamweaver web builder. This site best viewed with . . . big non-slippy things on your feet. Go to Top # © RmH # Email me here # Go to 2006 Archive Previous walk - 13th March 2006 Derwent Water and Keswick in the rain Previous time here - 24th August 2005 GPS and Geocaching at Rydal Water
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