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That's the luck of the draw for you . . .

Just as Sherran and Bill set off for home the weather changes and the sun comes out !

We told them that seeing the Lakes in all weathers was a delight . . . but there IS something special about a sunny winter's day.

Today we parked on the opposite side of Scale Hill from where we live.

A different perspective on a regular walk is always nice . . . as we take a 'round walk' via the woods to the summit.

[ We parked at Lanthwaite Gate so as to avoid Harry having too much tarmac to walk but we could have equally well parked

at the normal car park on Lanthwaite Green.  This way it meant that his walk back to the car at the end was shorter.]

After passing the roadside mirror (left) we head through the gate onto the open ground of Lanthwaite Green.

We're walking parallel to the road underneath Grasmoor's mighty western face.

We walk alongside the road until we reach Lanthwaite Green Farm.

There's a stone stile in the wall opposite but in fact the gate alongside the farm is easy to open.

The public footpath skirts the wall down from the farm buildings.

The buildings no longer include a working farmhouse but the outbuildings are still used for tending the cattle and sheep.

A right and left dog-leg in the path and we're heading across to the woods.

The house simply known as Lanthwaite can be seen a little further down alongside the road to Buttermere.

Ann requested I stop for a picture . . . I don't know what was more attractive . . . the dogs or the mountain !

The hat, gloves and warm jacket give the game away about the temperature.

For a change we divert up the slope on lightly used paths to the highest section of the woods.

A flat top was supposed to be an old iron age fort . . . but to me there are few if any clues to see.

Crossing the 'Scale Bridge' to Lanthwaite Green' bridleway.

We'd return to this point shortly and walk back to Lanthwaite using this gateway.

However, for now we'll continue on through the trees

and emerge onto the hill via a gate through the deer fencing.

The hill was planted with trees in recent years and they are slowly emerging from the growing tubes.

These appear to be yew, there's holly, hazel and several other varieties too.

The path to the summit is well formed and as we climb

the view south towards Buttermere and the central fells improves.

The view from Scale Hill includes around 18 names Wainwright peaks . . . not bad for a nipper.

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

Zooming in on Rannerdale Knotts and the high fells behind.

That will be the summit of Scafell Pike in the far distance, see through the gap between Great Gable and Kirk Fell.

Time to drop back down now . . . as we retrace our steps to the deer gate.

Through the old gate onto the bridleway . . . and we're heading towards Lanthwaite once again.

Lovely dappled sunshine penetrated the trees as we walk back.

Through the holly arch . . .

. . . but not before we stop for a photo shoot !

That was a lovely sunny afternoon . . . nice to look back on it in this way.

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