Fangs Brow to the Chair

Date & start time: Tuesday 5th January 2010, 1.50 pm start.

Location of Start : Fangs Brow corner above Loweswater, Cumbria, Uk ( NY 143 211 )

Places visited : The Coffin Road to the Chair, in the direction of High Nook.

Walk details : 2.2 mls, 275 ft, 1 hr 25 mins.

Highest point : The lovely views.

Walked with : Ann and the dogs, Harry and Bethan.

Weather : A fine afternoon with sub zero temperatures, sunny with blue skies.

With a low wintery sun at this time of year we wanted a walk that was not totally "in the freezer" as the temperatures in Cumbria, like most of the UK at this time, is consistently well below freezing . . . which is rather unusual. - - - o o o o - - - We drove a short distance to the other end of Loweswater Lake and walked at high level back towards High Nook. It started and ended in sunshine . . . but Burnbank Fell casts a big shadow ! - - - o o o - - - [ A cold looking photo of the UK courtesy of NASA presumably and Mr Grant Maton, a Loweswatercam viewer specifically] - - - o o o - - -

Recent snowfall, although small, had covered the car with snow and made all the roads white again.

We stopped in the middle of the road at Thrushbank to take in the view . . . well there wasn't a lot of traffic today !

What caught my eye was the surface of the lake.

Loweswater has apparently frozen over, the first time we have seen this in the eight years we have been living here.

A reasonably thick veneer of ice, too thin to walk on, has been covered by the overnight snow . . .

and appears thicker and stronger than it actually was.

Mellbreak and Hen Comb across the sea of ice.

Odd lines cross the ice, presumably where the water had not fully frozen when the snow fell.

Sunshine reflecting off the surface . . . the whole effect was dazzling.

Oh yes . . . we were going for a walk.

This is the gate onto the old Coffin Road which cuts across the side of Burnbank Fell, heading for High Nook and eventually Loweswater Church.

Sheep may safely graze . . . with extra feed at this time of the year.

Behind is the panorama of Fellbarrow and Low Fell on the north western edge of the Lakes.

Their feed is also supplemented with some high energy food . . . known as "sheep lick".

Lovely sunshine raises the temperature and the spirits.

Darling and Low Fells across the snow sprinkled wall.

The snow has stuck to the gate too, looking like a heavy frost.

Even in the sunshine there's no incentive for it to melt.

The shadow of Burnbank Fell stretched across the frozen lake and started to climb the slopes of the fells opposite.

We have also walked into the shade as we make our way along the track.

Didn't a certain Mr Attenborough do a TV show about " Life in the Freezer " ?

A gate with style . . . or should that be stile ?

Walking high above Holme Woods we get a clear view of Loweswater.

Click here or on the photo for a full view of the lake.

There's an old memorial chair at this point which is a good target for the walk.

Looking down from the chair towards the only bit of open water left on the lake . . . it was a great attraction for the waterfowl.

This is a delightful view of Loweswater at anytime.

Today the views the same . . . but the colours are different.

Ann would normally sit on the seat to enjoy the view for a few minutes but the seat has seen better days and the wooden slats have rotted away.

Perhaps it is time for a new one . . . any offers ?

That polar bear is following us again . . . no it's Harry . . . looking more his usual self.

We turn to go and leave Mellbreak . . . catching the afternoon sun beautifully.

It's a long and winding road . . .

. . . that leads to our door.

Criffel with a surprisingly small covering of snow.

In between us and Scotland is the Solway Firth. The clear air makes the 26 mile gap appear much shorter.

Late afternoon sun highlights the sheep still at the feeder.

Rose Hips at the roadside . . . back now at the car.

- - - o o o - - -

Sunset tonight was at approximately 3.55 pm.

This was Blake Fell . . . from Blake Fell House, Lamplugh . . . about that time.

- - - o o o - - -

Technical note: Pictures taken with either Ann's Canon 75 or my Canon G10 digital camera.

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

This site best viewed with . . . warm clothing and double gloves.

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Previous walk - 4th January 2010 Mellbreak for a Photo

A previous time up here - 9th November 2006 A late afternoon walk on the Coffin Road

Next walk - 6th January 2010 Mellbreak for a photo again