Another glorious winter day with brilliant sunshine and a cold feel to the air. 

The snow of last weekend still survives on the tops but has turned icy in the below-zero temperatures of the last few days.

After giving Dylan an easy valley stroll this morning, Dougal and I take on this more strenuous afternoon walk up my local fell.

Starting at the red phone box . . .

Enjoying views of Whiteside and Grasmoor across the valley.

Likewise, the Loweswater Fells of Blake, Carling Knott and Burnbank have an inviting layer of snow.

I head off into the sun to hopefully reach the top of the higher, second summit of Hen Comb,

seen here below that great yellow orb in the sky.

More valley views as I leave the Kirkstile Inn behind (for a change) and cross Park Beck bridge.

The northern face of Mellbreak is delightfully imposing  . . . but not for me today.

My first obstacle is the stepping stone crossing of the Mosedale Beck, at "Harry's Pool".

I broke some ice off the first few stones but they were still wet and slippery, resulting in me rather ungraciously 'entering' the water.

Fortunately I was already alongside the shallower part, so my boot leather kept the cold water and myself firmly apart.

Looking back and to the north, as I get my first view of Loweswater.

A steady pull up the start of the fell and chance of a breather , I mean a photo opportunity.

Across the way, Hopegill Head now stands out between Whiteside and Grasmoor.

Whether you climb to the fence or follow the farmers quad bike tracks,

you end up at the stile that needs to be crossed before you can progress further.

I opt for the off-piste ascent of Little Dodd and so leave the main footpath

in favour of this steep and rewarding climb to the minor summit.

Reaching the high ground early gave me views down into the White Oak Valley.

The strong white footpaths in the shadows are remnants of the tracks and water leats for the old lead mine down in the valley itself.

Gaining the intermediate summit means the ridge walk is a lot flatter, but don't be fooled,

there are lots of undulations and (normally) boggy sections to cross before I re-gain the track.

At the foot of the main climb the fence has been renewed and wisely the farmer has put a gate in it this time.

[ The last fence ignored the presence of fellwalkers and ended up being damaged purely by the passage of numerous people over time.]

Today, Dougal's ears prick up when he hears voices.  I take my eye off the path and look for them too . . .

promptly ending up on my backside as I stepped on a patch of ice.

Dougal of course has built in crampons in the form of claws.

The snow was crunchy and where any moisture had flowed during day, it had turned to impressive icicles at night.

The camera doesn't lie, the horizon is horizontal, and yes the steepest part of the climb is that steep.

A grassy summit just manages enough stones to make a small summit cairn . . . the climb is complete.

Time for myself (and Dougal) to enjoy the views, here all the way across to the east, with the Helvellyn Range in the distance.

Looking more to the south, the view includes Dale Head, Fleetwith Pike,

Buttermere, the High Stile Ridge and the Pillar fells.

A glance back presents Loweswater and the diminutive white houses of Thrushbank, now far below.

The outline of Criffel in Scotland just stands out from the side of Carling Knott, seen here on the left.

- - - o o o - - -

Rather than turn and retrace my steps down the steep descent, I continued onward,

dropping down the back of the fell slightly, to take a diagonal line and so ease the apparent slope.

A delightful descent, the 'spikes' gripping beautifully as we head down, looking for a faint path somewhere below the rough grass.

Surprisingly a lone Herdwick Sheep appeared and went ahead of us, and though in the picture,

it is very difficult to see it due to its camouflaged grey and white, wooly coat.

The downward route joined back to the outward path at the new gate.

My return route deviated slightly from the outward walk once again as I followed the quad bike track back towards the valley.

What you see here is normally a very damp boggy section, today it is covered in a sheet of ice.