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We reached Crabtree Beck on 'part one' of our Christmas Eve walk.

Our current location is the blue line by the red arrow in the centre of the map,

just below the words Sheepfold and Bield.

Intermission over . . . thanks for joining us for the second half of  this glorious sunny day.

The overnight frost and the cold air at altitude has held the frost on the top of Grasmoor all day.

Low Fell ahead but we'll stay low behind the trees.	Dylan catches the sun as we cross the beck.

A thin strand of forestry allows the afternoon sun to shine through.

All those branches make the photo look as if a 'star filter' was used . . . but none was.

After the trees, the last climb across the face of Low Fell this time.

There's a natural ledge possibly due to some historic landslip back in the time of the dinosaurs.

Two young dinosaurs grace the top of the rise . . . golden in the golden sun.

To our left you can see the folded strata of the volcanic rock hidden in the bracken.

Ahead . . . our cottage briefly catches the late afternoon sun.

We reach the "Matterhorn" rock . . . Matterhorn in shape if not size.

Guess what . . . the dogs want their picture taken on the rock.

Dylan jumped straight up . . . but getting Dougal to sit nicely was an impossibility.

Shadows lengthen and more of the valley ahead is being lost to the sun.

Our path now dips around the fell . . . it is downhill all the way from here.

The dogs wait at the broken stile . . .	. . . Scale Hill across the valley looks no distance away.

Around to the "Lonesome Pine"

We should have had a few minutes more of sunshine but the sun is setting behind a rogue low cloud over the Irish Sea.

The last of the bright sunshine . . .	. . . which is fading fast by the time we arrive.

Ann's panorama from Whiteside and Grasmoor round to the setting sun over the slopes of Gavel and Blake Fell.

Still a nice view . . . sunshine or not.

Even the high fells have lost the sun now . . .	. . . and the valley looks colder already.

The theory states that the air temperature decreases as you climb up,

but with the sun gone the temperature falls quickly as we drop down into the valley.

Frost on many of the fields shows how cold the air temperature has been down here.

Time for a cuppa at the end of our walk.

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The camera was in action again as the day closed.

Inspired perhaps by the recent phone box picture I was sent, I ventured out after dusk to take the following photos.

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A simple string of Christmas lights adorn the outside of the cottage.

Frost pocket behind the wall as dusk began to fall.

Mellbreak and the phone box . . . camera hand held.

Grasmoor dominates the view as I look back to the house.

" Rush Hour in Loweswater " as the lights from a single passing car illuminated the scene.

I have to wait till the road is clear to walk home !

A while later and with the tripod called into action . . .

A five second shutter exposure catches the fading light.

The yellow of the interior lights stand out in contrast now.

Looking in through the windows . . . there's a celebration about to take place . . . decorations and cards abound.

A cake and presents . . . it must be my birthday, celebrated a few hours early, to spread to enjoyment over two days.

[ I don't know whether Dylan and Dougal were more excited by the cake, the candles or the wrapped presents.

Whatever it was, I had to hold them back so Ann could get a photo without upsetting the table.]

Finally the same panoramic view of Loweswater Church taken late at night

just as the ringing of a lone bell encourages the congregation to the Christmas "midnight" service.

Hold your cursor over the picture to photographically put the clock back to the start of the day.

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We hope you had a great day of fine weather where you were on this day.

Merry Christmas.

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