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Friday 15th January dawned bright and frosty.

I jumped out of bed and looked out of the window even before the sun rose, just as the colour started to fill the sky.

Early ?   Not really, about eight o'clock . . . the dogs needed to go out into the garden !

Welcome to my lock-down world.

Morning sunrise and just the odd vapour trail, a rare sight at the moment.

After breakfast now and the recent rains have made the going soft underfoot.

However this morning the ground was frozen and the frost adds a silvery hue to most things.

The sun has risen above Brandreth and Great Gable

but a layer of high cloud has taken the edge off the clarity.

The green ivy has a white rim that makes it resemble a variegated version of the plant.

The ivy is in fruit at this time of the year which is important for the thrushes, blackcaps, wood pigeons and the blackbirds.

A young oak sapling adds the red colour in the foreground, Low Fell completes the background.

A  roadside pool has frozen, forming sharp crystal shapes and rounded bubble curves.

A brisk morning road walk finds me enjoying the view of Grasmoor from the Foulsyke gate.

The morning sun reflected on Crummock Water.

Icicles on the grass alongside the small waterfall at the old fish pond.

Back full circle after a quick half hour walk to enjoy the morning light.

- - - o o o - - -

Early afternoon now and I could do with visiting friends in Buttermere

so why not give the dogs a second walk up there ?

Palace How Cottage this time.

The ground is still frosted and the tops covered in overnight snow which fell to earth the night before last.

The view of Mellbreak from the southern end of the fell for a change.

To the left is the tree lined cleft of Scale Force, Gale Fell summit and white Great Borne in the distance.

The real reason for stopping the car however, was to enjoy the view up the Buttermere Valley

towards Robinson, Fleetwith, Brandreth, Haystacks and the High Stile Ridge, all of which are under snow.

The white cottage is Wood House which I would see again whilst on the walk.

High above the village is snow-covered High Snockrigg, the outlier of Robinson Fell.

Logs cut a few years ago but never carried away,

have laid undisturbed so long that they are now covered with a deep layer of moss.

The view up towards Fleetwith Pike, now with Crummock Water behind me.

High Snockrigg once again across an empty Buttermere campsite.

The fenced enclosure normally houses a couple of camping yurts during the tourist season.

Am I getting smaller . . . or are tractors getting bigger ?

The lads at Wilkinsyke Farm.

I call into Syke Farm next to the church

and managed to see Ann and acquire the last pint of fresh Ayreshire milk from the farm cooler.

The Old Vicarage in Buttermere, now nearing the end of its renovation, newly painted and looking smart once more.

Crag End Farm, also nicely painted with friendly red doors and window surrounds.

- - - o o o - - -

A second stop at the Crag End Cottages, with tea and biscuits and good conversation in their garden,

ruined the "walk statistics" but filled the belly and relaxed the brain very nicely thank you.

Time to head home.

- - - o o o - - -

Hi Roger Really interesting to see your photo of Crag End Farm, Buttermere. We have a lovely water colour by Jean Stewart Beddison which my colleagues kindly got for me when I left Cumbria to move down to Cheshire back in 1988. We were so sorry to learn that Ann had passed away and hope that you continue to have plenty of support from your lovely family and friends Take care. Pete and Alison Lennon Cheshire

 

On your preceding Ling Fell walk I drove past and photographed the train and station buildings at Bass lake Station.

The owner, Di Parums was on TV this week promoting the new visitor attraction that she and her husband

hope to have ready for when the world starts turning again.

Chris Goode sent me these screen shots . . . many thanks Chris.