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High Nook Tarn . . . Loweswater.

Date & start time: Sunday 9th January 2011, 3 pm start.

Location of Start : Maggie's Bridge car park, Loweswater , Cumbria, Uk ( NY 135 210 )

Places visited : Maggie's Bridge, High Nook Farm, High Nook Tarn ... and back.

Walk details : 2.25 mls, 350 ft of ascent, 1 hrs 15 mins.

Highest point : High Nook Tarn 730 ft - 225 m.

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

Weather : Late afternoon brightness but cloud on the tops and a cool breeze.

[ Alter the settings to zoom or change the Map, use Everytrail to download the Gps route ]

High Nook Tarn ... Loweswater at EveryTrail


 

 

A short Sunday walk after a dull and cloudy morning.

A slightly cold one too, but properly dressed we avoided the worst of the breeze

and found conditions less icy than expected. This current cold spell is not proving as severe as forecast.

Friday night's light covering of snow has gone from the fields and low lying hills of Loweswater.

We park at Maggie's Bridge and take the High Nook track, here looking back at Low Fell in the sunshine.

Ahead of us the western cloud covers the sun,

not helped by Gavel and Blake creating their own cloud layer which blocks any chance of late sun in this part of the valley.

Don't look now but I think we're being followed.

A hanging fence should stop the sheep walking up the river.

In flood it can swing to let excess water or debris pass unhindered.

   
Brief glimpses of Loweswater over the fence.
Farm equipment as a foreground to snow-topped Grasmoor.

A little higher on the track gives us a better view of Grasmoor and (white) Whiteless Pike.

The old farmstead of High Nook . . . slept in by Wainwright but not Prince Charles !

The farmer (Dave) is keeping most of his sheep down on the farm fields

rather than out on the high fells at this time of year.

The enclosed valley of High Nook.

We're walking the old 'Coffin Road' which climbs toward the tarn but then swings right around Carling Knott heading for Fangs Brow.

High Nook Tarn and a diminutive second tarn covered in ice.

Ann takes to the high ground to find a convenient rock from which to enjoy the view.

Check out her view . . . click here or on the photo above for a big value, Loweswatercam annotated panorama.

The tarn is mostly frozen, with just some clear water at the edges.

Harry goes down to play in the water.

Chewing ice wafers.

A walk around the tarn before we head back . . .

looking across at an island with a dormant Rowan Tree.

Further round . . . the afternoon sunshine reflects on the clear waters edge.

Ice to the edge here . . . waterlogged ground on this side forces us away from the bank in favour of higher ground.

Across to look at the bridge on the 'Coffin Road' but it seems the dogs have got there before me.

There's no point in going down as it leads in the wrong direction today.

Our direction was home . . . retracing our steps back down towards High Nook Farm.

The brightness has left the high fells as sunset was nearly 15 minutes ago.

The fine weather and slightly later sunset time means it is still quite light at just gone 4 pm.

- - - o o o - - -

 

Technical note: Pictures taken with my Canon G10 digital camera.

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

This site best viewed with . . . a nice new pair of mountain trousers.

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© RmH.2011 # Contact us here

Previous walk - 6th January 2011 Lorton and Lanthwaite

A previous time up here - 9th January 2010 Loweswater and High Nook Round

Next walk - 11th January 2011 Knock Murton - winter sunshine

 

In response to a recent comments to us from Martin Kirk and other Loweswatercam viewers . . . a gear report:

Paramo Alta 2 Jacket

Following Ann's, Jo's and John's successful use of Paramo gear, peer pressure made me look at an Alta 2 coat as my yellow Sprayway Pro Shell jacket had seen better days. [The fact that work is now stocking these Paramo coats also helped me decide to give them a try.]

The coat is delightful to wear, soft and warm. The fabric is sufficiently waterproof to stop any rain and the construction of the very breathable layers drives any perspiration or other moisture out and away. Still to be tested in poor weather by myself, the coat should be very successful if Ann's experience is anything to go by. I chose the longer, more traditional Alta 2 in favour of a shorter smock style of jacket for ease of use and extra length/protection on possible bad days.

Haglof Col Pant

With a rather nice gift voucher for clothing from fellow colleagues on the event of a recent big birthday, I've invested in a pair of 'soft shell' trousers. The (Swedish) Haglof trousers are windproof, stretchy, highly water repellant and warm, just right for today's outing. [The fabric bridges the gap between fleece and Gortex. More windproof and water repellant than fleece and softer, warmer and more breathable than Gortex. Not waterproof but I should stay dry.]

Again I haven't tried them out in anger but they are very like the Mountain Equipment Combine Pant I tried in North Wales.

Kahtoola Micro Spikes

Taken but not used due to the lack of ice on the paths following the recent thaw.