Oak Cottage - Loweswater

Retreat to the quiet of the Western Lakes

The Cottage, and  the view up the Buttermere Valley
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Date : Several days in January 2005. After the storms, floods and the power cuts, peace descends on the valley as the sun comes out and people return to normal living again !

Location : Loweswater, Cumbria, and the fells here about.

Occasion : Four shorter afternoon walks, giving ourselves and the dogs some long awaited higher level walks in descent conditions. Bethan, our pup, is just starting her fellwalking career.

Walk details : Knott Rigg and Ards Crag from Newlands, Rannerdale from Cinderdale car park, Burnbank Fell overlooking the Solway and finally Souther Fell, Mungrisedale, in the northern fells.

Weather : Fine and dry but often cold in the cool northerly wind.

26th January. Knott Rigg and the Ard Crags ridge.

Big brother Harry showing Bethan the way up Knott Rigg.

Ann wrapped up warm due to the cool breeze.

Sail Fell has the last edges of snow from 10 days ago.

Distant views of Derwent Water as Ann reaches Ards Crag summit.

Causey Pike to her left, Newlands valley and over towards Helvellyn on her right.

Time to turn and head back to enjoy the last of the sunshine.

 

Late sun over the High Stile Ridge

from half way back.

A pink glow is developing to the west.

 

Red Skies over Red Pike.

28th January Rannerdale from Cinderdale

"I like photos - gives me time to rest"

Climbing out of Rannerdale valley with Low Fell beyond.

A patch of sunlight on Brandreth but not Gable.

Buttermere Valley from Rannerdale Ridge.

Late afternoon sun on the end summit of Rannerdale Knotts.

The lakes are Crummock and the smaller Loweswater.

Close in on Loweswater we could make out the hills of Scotland beyond.

 

Reflections at Hawes Point.

Down by the lake Harry (for some reason) enjoys a dip in the cold water.

As the sun sets and turns the colours, Grasmoor takes on the appearance of Ayers Rock.

 

Turning back we see the source of the colour.

A hidden sunset over the western Lakes with bright red and yellow clouds reflecting in Crummock Water.

A fuller panorama of the sunset colours on Grasmoor, Wandope and the sharp peak of Whiteless Pike.

 

29th January Burnbank Fell on the edge of the Lakes above Loweswater

Low afternoon sun again as we walk from Fangs Brow summit between Loweswater and Lamplugh

looking east along the old coffin road towards the Loweswater Fells.

Above the lone sheep is Whiteside, then moving right, the bulk of Grasmoor, Whiteless Pike, Robinson, the darker heather covered Melbreak and finally the silhouette of the slopes of Burnbank itself.

Looking down on Loweswater,

the shadow if Melbreak starting to show on the lower slopes of the valley opposite.

Blake Summit with a passing layer of mist, taken from Burnbank Fell

We were on Blake a few days ago when Bethan hitched a ride in my rucksack. (Click here for those photos)

Today she is full of beans and eager to run.

Sunset over the west coast. High cloud out to sea meant the colours weren't so intense as yesterday.

The wind is getting up and the temperature is dropping fast in the cool moist conditions. The forecast for tomorrow is not so good.

But tonight the walking is fine.

Burnbank Fell summit.

 

30th January with Anne and Andrew on Souther Fell

The resulting weather was almost bad enough to stay in bed all day but the Leaneys encouraged us out with the prospect of finer skies in the eastern fells. The Fishers web cam had shown a patch of sun so we couldn't say no.

As it turned out the walk was a real delight, cool and breezy but fine. It was a less demanding route in deference to the youngest member so we ended up climbing Souther Fell and returned by following the Glenderamakin Beck till it became the river as it passed the Mill Inn at Mungrisedale. There we had to stop !

Bethan tried but Harry made it first to the top of Souther's second summit cairn (unaided as well).

 

Not to be outdone Bethan saw a route up and climbed as well.

Anne hanging onto two dogs in the blustery wind.

Our route took us across the footbridge at the delightfully named White Horse Bent. Above us was Foule Crag and the arete of Sharp Edge.

Here we turned right and after a refreshment stop in the sunshine, out of the wind, we followed the river down to Mungrisedale.

Ann and myself on Souther Fell.      One to finish this set of walks.

 

Technical note: Pictures taken with a Canon IXUS 400 Digital camera.

Resized in Photoshop, and built up on a Dreamweaver web builder.

This site best viewed . . . with good windproof jackets and hats.

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