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Dougal and I take a walk up to Harry's Pool and see how the recent heavy rains have caused the river levels to rise.

The fields and fells are already heavily saturated with rain from recent weeks and the run off is appreciable.

Before that, I take Dylan around the fields on a short local walk to stretch his legs.

- - - o o o - - -

A week ago we had a visit to Keswick Theatre by the Lake to enjoy the Banff Film Festival evening.

Eight prize winning outdoor adventure films from around the world, all on the same evening.

Coming shortly to a venue near you perhaps  . . . well worth an evening visit.

Storm Dennis was more noteable here in the far north west of the Lakes as much for the wind rather than the total amount of rainfall.

This was the following day when the wind still blew and gusts were whipping the tops off the waves on Crummock Water.

Today (Thursday) I was just contemplating a walk in the afternoon sunshine,

when two wintery squalls blew across the valley, one of hail and one of snow.

" We'll leave the walk for a little longer to see if it clears."

- - - o o o - - -

Half an hour later it did and all was sunshine once again.

I took the two dogs out through the Quarry field to see the newly planted trees.

Hopefully this venture will be less intrusive once the plastic is removed . . . sadly that is still several years ahead.

Loweswater Vicarage with the southern viewpoint of the Low Fell ridge behind.

From, the high ground nearer the Village Hall there's a great panorama of the fells surrounding Crummock Water.

Storm Dennis and the rain of subsequent days has left us with a covering of snow on the high fells.

The owner of the field is planting the last of nearly 3000 trees in two fields locally.

This final tree he planted was a stand-alone Copper Beech in memory of his young son, buried in the churchyard next door.

The view of what can be classed as the centre of the village . . . the Church and the Kirkstile Inn.

In the field in front of the church there's a pool of rain water in the field in a place that rarely gets flooded.

It shows that that a lot of water has fallen from the sky in the last few weeks.

At the top of the bank the sheep graze on dry ground.      Behind are snow-dusted Grasmoor and Whiteless Pike

A more unusual photo of the church and pub

The field was used for the Loweswater Show in years gone by but it would be far too small now.

There is activity in the Kirkstile Beer Garden even on this cold and damp day.

Three sheep have escaped from a neighbouring field and have gone along to the pub for some late afternoon refreshments.

To give Dougal more of a walk I return Dylan home and set off again for a walk up the Mosedale bridleway track.

Crossing Church Bridge . . . the river is running well but is not overflowing.

It appears on the other side and covers all the gravel beaches which are normally dry.

Kirkhead Farm . . . the arch leads to the front door of the farmhouse itself.

Some of the cattle that live out in the fields during the summer are housed in the barns on the left and right.

Kirkgate Cottage, much more modern than the name suggests.

It has a fire burning and people staying, which is unusual nowadays.

Shafts of sunlight illuminate the fells as we walk up the lane.

Dougal contemplates the pool that gathers in this part of the lane . . . it is full to overflowing.

Sunlight on Lanthwaite Hill.

The brightness on the hills through the gap is due to the snow on Sand Hill and Hopegill Head.

One field down from here the grass is running with extensive surface water.

The stream that has filled the lane and the caused the pool further down started way out on the side of Mellbreak.

Because it is enclosed by the lane, it travels nearly a third of a mile before escaping to the fields.

Looking forward (up-stream) to the summit of Hen Comb.

What we know as Harry's Pool is also full to overflowing.

This has a set of very basic stepping stones, part of the path to Hen Comb when climbing from this side.

Being nearly a foot underwater, they are inaccessible today.

The swimming pool just a little further down would be more suitable for surfing than swimming today!

Not surprising with this volume of water cascading down over the rocks.

Back to the upper part of the cataract . . . snow covered Starling Dodd merges with the sky in the far distance.

On the track once more and Starling Dodd is clearer now.

The fell run-off filling the path continues on around the corner, but we'll turn round here and head back home.

The twin peaks of Darling Fell and Low Fell are ahead now.

The sun has set below the fells and is starting to show signs of a more colourful western sunset.

Skirting the top of the woods for a short way we get a hint of colour across the upper face of Mellbreak.

The sunlight just about makes another colour band across the face of Grasmoor.

A rather grey end to the day as the fine sunset came to nothing.

- - - o o o - - -

Friday and the River Cocker has overflowed once again due to the heavy rainfall.

We've had Storm Ciara and Storm Dennis . . . perhaps the rainfall last night should be called "the storm with no name" !