- Lanthwaite Woods Walk -

Date & Time: Saturday 8th December 2007. 2.35 pm start.

Location of Start : The red phone box, Loweswater, Cumbria, Uk. ( NY 143 211 )

Places visited : Scale Hill Bridge, Brackenthwaite Hows, Lanthwaite Woods, the Boathouse at Crummock Water, back via the weir, the Pump House and Muncaster House.

Walk details : 3.2 mls, 600 ft of ascent, 2 hrs 10 mins.

Highest point : Scale Hill (Lanthwaite Hill) 666 ft (205m)

Walked with : Jill, Jo, Ann and the dogs, Jodie, Megan, Harry and Bethan.

Weather : High winds, rain, blizzard conditions on the fells, damp under foot, but possibly clearing towards the end of the afternoon.

White conditions on Robinson

and wet conditions for the sheep by Puffin Tarn

 

The forecast today was correct and the high fells have been left with a covering of snow.

In the valley the waterlogged fields are not draining and Puffin Tarn has reappeared in the field below the cottage.

This afternoon we plan a short walk between the midday rain and the early evening darkness.

Our route will take us up onto Lanthwaite Hill, the low wooded hill in the middle distance.

A short road walk took us across to Scale Hill.

The old hotel is now holiday apartments. We will take the footpath to the right by the sign.

High in the trees, two squirrel rope ladders are there to encourage the red squirrels to cross above, not on the road.

( Above )

A flash photo of Jill as we make our way

along the dark woodland path.

 

 

(Left )

The stile at the top of the woods that lead out onto Lanthwaite Hill

Megan waits to cross as the stile is broken.

Behind is the imposing bulk of Grasmoor

with its fresh covering of snow.

 

- - - o o o - - -

The hamlet of Loweswater with a few passing rain drops highlighted by the camera.

At the head of the Buttermere Valley we could just make out snow on Haystacks but Great Gable was missing.

To the right and ahead of us here, the High Stile Ridge looked wet and definitely wintery

A panorama of the valley from Grasmoor to Mellbreak,

taken in far from brilliant photographic conditions.

A misty close up of High Stile and Red Pike.

   
Ann making her way on through the woods
Jo and Jill, with Harry keeping an eye on that big splodge behind.

Over the forest wall we looked up Gasgale Gill.

The warm yellow lights in the farm looked inviting when we were out in the rain.

A brighter interlude ended as we reach the old boathouse by the lakeside.

This used to house the boats that belonged to the Scale Hill Hotel.

"Hear no sunshine, see no sunshine, feel no sunshine" again

this time on the boathouse seat.

The weir is always a dramatic place to be.

If it is fine, the fells are a delight, if it is rough like today, the water has a power beyond man's control.

It's running nearly a foot deep over the weir.

A 1/20th second exposure blurs the water as it rushes by . . .

. . . whereas an instant flash photo captures each drop as it roars over the weir.

Nearly home, but not quite . . . we cross Church Beck at the start of the gated road back to the cottage.

As you can see, photography got a little pointless after this.

The rain had increased even more but we were still enjoying the walk.

 

- - - o o o - - -

Technical note: Pictures taken with a Canon G7 Digital camera.

Resized in Photoshop, and built up on a Dreamweaver web builder.

This site best viewed with . . . a few holiday videos to watch - indoors !

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© RmH.2007 # Email me here

Previous walk - 7th December 2007 A Wet Day and a Waterfall

A previous time up here - 8th April 2006 Loweswater ~ Greys and Blues ~ with Gareth and Helen

Next walk - 9th December 2007 Castle Crag on a cool winter day