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A busy morning with John Lowe, our gardening expert, who with his staff gave the garden trees, bushes and hedges a biennial haircut

and what's more, did it quickly, efficiently and took all the brash away . . . which meant that when Ian arrived after lunch

both Ann and I were able to show him the delights of one of our local viewpoints.

To avoid the road walk down and back for Harry, we drove the short distance from the cottage to Scale Hill car park.

Our chosen summit was Lanthwaite Hill, basking in the afternoon sunshine, nestled under the bulk of Whiteside and Grasmoor.

Taking the car meant we could extend the walk within the woods and still be home before dark.

The measuring weir adjacent to the car park.        The black box secured to the side wall of the river is a new eel ladder

. . . surprising as the small weir doesn't really an appear to be a major obstacle for them.

From the car park we took the path that sets off up the hill just the other side of the gate.

Our rapid climb meant that we very quickly had enough height to look down on the hamlet of Loweswater.

The highest summit in the distance is Carling Knott.  Surprisingly it is the one fell of the Loweswater group that isn't afforded

a separate chapter in his books and consequently not awarded the accolade of being a " Wainwright fell ".

Harry leads the way through the top of the mixed woodland but Dylan seemed to be hiding behind the tree.

He wouldn't come out and pose for his photo on the path . . . no matter how much I called him !

The tall gate through the relatively new deer fencing on the top of the hill.

The lower slopes were planted with tree saplings a few years back and the fence was required to protect the young plants from being eaten.

The white posts are all plastic tubes, protecting the new saplings from the weather and from being overgrown by the grass and bracken.

Apparently the tubes encourage the trees to shoot up tall and straight and can advance their growth by several years.

The path crosses the slight ridge and heads up to the summit.

This is the wider view as I looked back at Carling Knott and Loweswater.

To my right the wide Lorton Valley heads off in the direction of Cockermouth.

Ann and Ian pause for a photo call as they climb.

Behind and below them are the driveway and two white chimneys of Picket How,

the larger white cottages of the Turner How group and the further away 'Low Houses' on the Buttermere Road.

On the summit now and the views are not a disappointment today and the clear air after yesterday's snow means we can see for miles.

At the bottom of the slope under Grasmoor, on the grassy moorland next to Lanthwaite Green is an old pre-historic village.

It couldn't really be seen clearly today, but with snow on the ground and  the bracken down its shape and size can be seen more clearly.

[ Archive Photo courtesy of Nigel Batchelor ]

It is the round circle (outer stockade) and internal rough ground (hut circles) above the improved grassland field.

Back to today . . . our eyes are also drawn to the high fells at the head of the valley.

AW also liked this spot and it qualified for a mention and even a summit view in his North Western Fells book.

The only addendum I would make is to say that there isn't a scheduled Loweswater bus service any more

. . . but the Honister Rambler still runs as a summer service out of Keswick on the Buttermere road.

Rather than duplicate the effort, all the fells are named on the bigger picture . . .

Click here or on the photo above for a Loweswatercam 360 degree annotated panorama.

Ian stood and enjoyed his first visit to this lovely little summit.

Together we could see about eighteen Wainwright summits . . . and could identify parts of another three or four.

We stood and counted . . . and became confused and re-counted . . . then the sun quietly set behind Gavel Fell.

Time to be heading down if we intend to walk the woods and get back before dark.

 . . . and takes us down to the side of Crummock Water just by the boat house.

There we met another local couple who we've met many times before but not yet become acquainted by name.

They sadly lost their dog a while back but recognised Harry and Dylan, so stopped to talk and introduce their new cocker spaniel.

As we sat the sky gradually changed colour,

the watery sky and high clouds reflecting pinks and purple colours this time.

A delightful yet unusual sunset

from the clearing alongside the seat, half way along the boat house path towards Scale Hill.

With the sun set and the colours gone we return to the more monotone colours of dusk.

Here Dylan stands by the tall pine tree at the foot of the lake.

A final shot as we take the riverside path back through the woods to the car.

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At home . . . the prospect of a warm log fire and supper, Joan joining Ian and ourselves for the evening.

Afterwards . . . a birthday cake for Harry . . . thirteen today !

( I don't think Dylan can cope with that many candles ! Perhaps he is thinking "Will I ever need that many?")

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Harry appreciated his electronic cards from Angie and Sherran . . . well Ann thinks he did . . . but he really didn't say.

He liked his cake though . . . once the candles were out.

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