It was a beautifully sunny, winter's morning with the last of the overnight frost covering the grass of Hope Park, made even more beautiful by the contrast of the recent storms.

I was in Keswick as the car needed a service and a walk of an hour or so would pass the time nicely while the garage did their work.

Dougal would appreciate a walk too, so rather than leave him at home, I opted for a stroll around from Keswick out towards the lake with him as company.

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- - - o o o - - -   Firstly, in the days leading up to the walk the area was hit by Storm Eowyn (24th Jan) which caused considerable disruption in and around the Lakes, nothing like the damage sustained by Northern Ireland or parts of Scotland, but damage nevertheless.   We lost power for nine hours but neighbours of mine only had their power back after a two or three days, due to trees falling across the power lines.   This was the lovely big pine at the foot of Crummock by the weir. Fortunately it didn't fall but it lost a few limbs in the storm. The photo was taken in 2022.   - - - o o o - - -

Now we have a new seat on the beach as a result of the branches crashing to the ground.

The National Trust Ranger had already been in and tidied up the smaller parts of the tree, as can be seen by the sawdust scattered over the beach.

A close up of the fallen bough, too big to move immediately.	Over to Loweswater and another fallen tree that knocked my power off !

In the fields close by, the wind was strong enough to topple this mature oak . . . such a shame.

It's not all bad news . . . my log pile is significantly better off after the storm.

My car calls itself a 'Forester' so it can live up to its name for once, as I haven't got a trailer !

Unloading the wood took longer than expected as I had to clean the car out afterwards, ready for a trip to Keswick the next day.

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Morning sun shines on the guest houses on The Heads and filters through the trees in Hope Park.

Too early yet for the visitors to be out playing Crazy Golf.

Also too early for the Spring bulbs to be in flower

but the Parks Department has set out the flower beds in anticipation.

Coloured lights draw your attention to the Theatre by the Lake and the posters advertising the shows on offer.

The field opposite the Theatre is known as Crow Park

and once through the semi-circle of seats you can look down on the lake and appreciate the views across to the local fells.

At the end of the road are the Boat Landings and the old Boathouse. The small building alongside the wall is the ticket office for the Keswick Launches.

I had forgotten that the Boathouse actually has a bell, maybe it was a throw back to old days when it could be used to summons the boatman

for a trip across to, or a collection from, the big house on Derwent Isle.

The wider view including the Derwent Fells.

No boats today because January is the closed season.

The floating pontoon moored next the jetty is used to do winter maintenance and has a pile driver rigg for replacing the posts for jetties.

It looks like this one on the beach fell off the pontoon during the storm !

A power boat has just left the Derwent Isle Jetty, heading out onto the lake.

Also out there were two single scull, rowing boats, their occupants enjoying a sunny morning exercise on the flat calm lake.

The House on Derwent Isle, as seen through the trees.

Ten minutes after that boat left the house alarm went off. I hope it wasn't a security problem.

As the path makes its way out to the end of Friar's Crag I get fabulous views across the almost calm waters towards Causey Pike.

As ever, the seat had occupants, but as they had just arrived I didn't want to ask them how long they would be sitting there,

so here's a slightly different view looking up the lake to Castle Crag . . . without the famous seat.

Time in hand so I extended the walk round towards Strandshag Bay, passing the lagoon alongside Friar's Crag.

The reflections in the calm water of the lagoon were beautiful.

A slightly wider view to the left now including Friar's Crag and Catbells.

The headland has been a popular visitor spot since the days of Ruskin and Southey, the Lakeland Poets.

Okay . . . you want the whole view, here it is.

Click here or on the photo above for a larger annotated panorama of the view I had today.

As I walked on to the second part of the bay the sun went behind a light cloud and the sunshine lost its intensity.

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I could return to Keswick the same way or, as I've walked this far, I could carry on and include Castle Head in a circular walk.

The boardwalk has been built over the wetland area, which you can now cross with dry feet !!

After the boardwalk, a short walk back along the footpath that runs parallel to the Borrowdale Road, took me over to the foot of Castle Head.

For a change I took the first footpath up the crags, which circles the viewpoint at low level before climbing up to the summit from behind.

The top of Castle Head has an outcrop of rock, smoothed flat by the glaciers of old

and also the feet of many more modern visitors who climb the hill to take in the fine view of Keswick and the the Borrowdale Valley.

A viewing plate offers visitors an explanation of what they should be able to see.

A wooden seat also offers them respite, as they take in the fine views of Derwent Water.

All in all a fine view from the top of Castle Head, drawn into one on a single photographic panorama.