Copies of all photos available on request

Home Page : Archive 2025

25th December 2025 - Christmas Week's Travels

It was a busy Christmas Week this year, with lots of travelling to see family. We spent Christmas day in Loweswater with lunch out at The Bridge Hotel. Then it was all go, travelling to Tickhill for Boxing Day, to Sheffield two days later and back home in time for New Year.

24th December 2025 - Christmas Wishes

Well it's not going to be a white Christmas, but that doesn't mean it won't be a good one.

Enjoy the festive period.

We hope you all have a relaxed few days and like us, look forward to a Happy New Year.

21st December 2025 - Eskdale and Brook House

We ventured a little further today for a favourite walk in Eskdale. This is an area that offers so many variations, including waterfalls and rugged moorland paths, but we'll stick to the valley today. Starting and ending point at The Brook House Hotel . . . well it will be time for refreshments by the time we get back.

19th December 2025 - Stormy St Bees and Maryport

The local news had pictures of a landslip at St Bees Head which had closed the coast path. On a damp day at Loweswater we headed west to see the sights and to look for slightly better weather. The following day the forecast offered better conditions, even some sunshine on the coast once again.

10th- 14th December 2025 - Bram, Hilton and floods

It's been a hectic start to December and we got back from Harewood in time to hunker down for Storm Bram which brought high winds and rain in its wake. On Tuesday the lights flickered and went out, the power was not to return for abut eighteen hours. Still, we were back up and running for our visitor who was due a few days later.

6th December 2025 - Harewood Christmas

We're over in Yorkshire for a coupe of days so that Loes can meet up with her family, who have all gathered to celebrate the festive season. Staying in Harewood Village gives us chance to visit Harewood House to look at their Christmas decorations that are spread through the many public rooms of the stately home.

28th November 2025 - Mini-tour of the NW Lakes

It's the last week of November and we have a visitors for the weekend. My brother and his wife Mary have driven over from Yorkshire for a few days in The Lakes, so Loes and I try to re-introduce them to places that they haven't seen for many years, or perhaps haven't even been to before.

25th November 2025 - Catbells Terrace Plus a Bit

After four days of warm and wet weather, we awake to sunshine and a change of colour, from winter back to Autumn. Somewhere different is calling, but nothing to steep or long. We got the first bit right but Loes's choice of route made the walk that little bit longer than expected. First a drive over Whinlatter and park near Nichol End Marina.

21st November 2025 - Low Fell Snow with David

We were graced with a third day of fine snow in the north west of the Lakes and my neighbour wanted to enjoy another walk in the snow. He requested another local fell that he hadn't yet climbed. Leaving the cars behind the two of us, plus two dogs, set off for a round walk over the fell to embrace the beautiful conditions. How long would they last ?

20th November 2025 - Buttermere for a Letter

The second day of sunshine and snow. My walking companions of yesterday have 'passed' on a walk and I have to go to Buttermere at some point to pick up a letter. I've often walked round Buttermere, but I haven't been round Crummock for quite some time. Today a great day to get a job out of the way and enjoy doing it in the best possible way.

19th November 2025 - Mellbreak in the Snow

From wet and windy to bright sunshine for this walk, when overnight snow blanketed the fells and the rather cold air prevents the bright sun from melting the snow. I'm joined by my neighbours on a what can be classed an 'adventurous walk' up the northern face of the fell, visiting both summits and then returning via a narrow snow covered ledge.

9th November 2025 - Castle Crag for Remembrance

Remembrance Day is celebrated all over the country and remembers those who died in the two World Wars. We also remember those that have been killed or injured in service of their country at that time or since. Castle Crag is one of many places in Cumbria that recognise the occasion and a climb to the top for 11am is a rewarding experience.

8th November 2025 - Stan's Castlerigg & Walla Crag

Stan Leigh and his wife Frances are leading a Striders Walk to Castlerigg and Walla Crag. The start will be at the Castlerigg Stone Circle, where one of the group, Peter Harris gave us a short talk on the historical significance of the stones. The other objective was to enjoy a nice view from Walla Crag, but that will be a little more difficult today.

4th/5th November 2025 - The Rain that Raineth

Loes headed off to Harewood first thing, amid a downpour of rain that had been falling for the last 24 hours. The valley road was theoretically closed for road works but Fibrus never turned up. She made it through floods on the back road and met the sunshine as she headed east, but here in Loweswater the rain continued to fall and the river levels to rise.

2nd November 2025 - Mob Barrow and Outerside

Today's walk was advertised as a 'B' walk, supposedly easier than a full fell walk. However Barrow and Outerside, make a fine pair, tucked as they are within the Coledale Horseshoe, so they were just asking to be joined. Add to that a cool day with recent rains making the going slippery at times and we have a nearly five hour day out on the fells.

25th - 26th October 2025 - Goddards and Pocklington

An invitation from my older brother took us to Pocklington from Harewood. On the way we stopped of in the city of York to see a national Trust property, or more correctly, the garden of the property. Sunday we enjoyed a drive and a walk, plus a visit to a delightful church close to their home.

10th - 24th October 2025 - Musical Stones and Harewood

Either side of the two latest walks were a number of interesting events and some nice weather so this is a collection that spans a fortnight in October. Weather wise, autumn colours and subtle weather abound in places, but is absent when you go looking for it. Still the talk in Keswick rung a bell . . . or should I say rungs "The Stones".

18th October 2025 - Stan's Dalemain Walk

Stan and Frances Leigh created a popular walking group known as The Cockermouth Striders, and today he invited members to join him on a six mile walk on a circular route from Dalemain (between Penrith and Ullswater). His usual commentary along the way informed us of Dacre and Pooley Bridge, before completing the triangle back at Dalemain.

12th October 2025 - Dale Head above the Clouds

A Newlands Round was in prospect when Peter organised the Mob 'A' Walk for this weekend. The weather was damp and cloudy and there must be a lot going on locally as we were few in number, but three of us set off today, full of hope of a fine walk on the high fells.

9th October 2025 - History Walk at Whitehaven

Another trip to Whitheaven today, that's two in a month, both guided walks, the difference being that this one was organised by our Local History Society and was a walk around town rather than the National Trust who took us up onto the open headland. This time we turned right and headed into town to learn of other aspects of Whitehaven.

4-5th October 2025 - Sweetness after the Storm

Storm Amy, the first named storm of the Autumn season, blew through last weekend. It ended up moving further north and west than forecasted, so Scotland not ourselves, got the worst of the battering. On the Sunday the weather had stayed clear overnight, ready for the well publicised Lorton Apple Day the next day.

28th September 2025 - Mob Walk - The Coffin Route

Today's Mob Walk was advertised as a "B" walk which usually means it is an easier walk compared to some. It turned out to be, at six miles, to be only half a mile shorter than the recent Mardale Walk, but the difference was the easier terrain and the less total height gain. In all other respects it was still a great walk,and left us relaxing Sunday evening, feeling as if we'd had a great day out.

24th September 2025 - Germany to Scotland

Loes's life long friend and the person she first came to England with, is Eike. She now lives in Hamburg and she is over in the UK to stay with Loes and myself for a week. The first few days she saw friends in Yorkshire but then she travelled over here eager to see Cumbria . . . and to "Visit Scotland", well travel across the border at least.

21st September 2025 - Mob Mardale Ill Bell Walk

After a very changeable forecast for Sunday, the day dawned fine and bright, the sun was out, the air clear and superb day's fellwalking was in prospect. Peter had organised an "A" walk for our group which involved a drive across to Haweswater on the the far side of the Lakes. Water levels have been low so the fell paths should be dry.

15th September 2025 - NT Whitehaven Walk

There was an invitation offered by The National Trust to visit some of their less well known places and to hear their history. The grassland on the top of the cliffs at Whitehaven was one such place and we would learn how The Trust manages this post industrial area."Meet at ten at the Beacon, the walk will go ahead even in the event of bad weather".

13th September 2025 - Sheffield - Baslow Edge

I've driven across the country and down a bit, to visit my daughter and family in Sheffield. After a over-long five and a half hour drive on Friday, we had the whole day Saturday to spend with the grandchildren. Dougal also needed a walk so we decided to head out to one of the "edges" to enjoy an outing overlooking a different 'River Derwent' Valley.

7th September 2025 - The Loweswater Show 2025

It's the first Sunday in September, it's the Vale of Lorton and it's the time for the Loweswater Show. The local Cumbrian tradition of display and competition of farm animals and the 'industry' of the farm workers, has given rise to the classic "Agricultural Show". Loweswater is a medium size show, organised by the people of the valley themselves.

31st August 2025 - Croft Field Ponds and local

Back home and chance to catch up, with some interesting smaller walks along the way. With the end of the metrological summer, the weather's turned and we are getting more low pressure weather bringing winds and rain. However it's all very changeable and on the good days the views are lovely (on the bad days there aren't any) !

26 / 28th August 2025 - A Short Visit to Bath

A short visit to attend a funeral turns into a family get together and a big catch up all round. Humour amongst the sadness but a relief for the Kirby Family after Christopher's long illness. The weather, the accommodation, the traffic all aim to frustrate but the short trip to Bath becomes a celebration and something to remember.

17/18th August 2025 - Crummock walks and a Swim

In the week or so since our last walk life has been busy. The sun is shining and the garden has been rather productive on may fronts. Time spent picking and processing fruit was interspersed with walks and even a swim in the sunny weather. Time selecting photo for the next Loweswatercam calendar managed to fill the other free minutes of the week.

16th August 2025 - An overdue return to Binsey

Some days, when your feeling old and grey, after dealing with a backlog of gardening jobs, you just want a smaller walk out on the fells. Locally there are the usual local walks up Low Fell or Ling, but today Loes and I went just a little further, to walk Binsey. Wainwright recommends it as somewhere excellent to walk the children or the dogs and it worth a place in his books by virtue of the views it offers, from the high fells of central Lakeland to the Solway and the Scottish hills.

10th August 2025 - Fewston and Brimham Rocks

On our other free day in Yorkshire we had the chance to drive out to the north about twelve miles or so, past Menwith Hill to a place known as Fewston, where a series of small reservoirs store water for the Leeds conurbation.From Fewston it's only a few miles further to the National Trust site of Brimham Rocks.

9th August 2025 - Boston Spa on the River Wharfe

We were over in Yorkshire for a family birthday party and while we were there, took the chance for a couple of local walks to exercise ourselves and Dougal in rather different surroundings compared to home. The first outing was to the local village or should we say, town of Boston Spa, a famous name but of which I knew very little.

2nd August 2025 - Keswick, Maryport and Garden

A mixture of photos this time, both from the many smaller walks we've done and a few other things that have stopped me walking. The recent rains caused little difference to lake and river levels so our visit to Keswick showed really low water. The sunshine however has brought on the fruit which needs preserving if it is not going to waste.

27th / 29th July 2025 - Home to the Fells

Back home after our three week holiday. The garden needs a bit of looking after now the fruit has started to ripen, but my house-sitters have done a wonderful job with the lawns and there's nothing urgent to do. Loes drove to Harewood after a few days so its up to me to stretch my own legs and spend time walking Dougal . . . now where shall we go ?

3rd - 20th July 2025 - Holland and Germany

After two aborted attempts to cross the channel (due to broken legs and a funeral) we finally re-arrange our holiday, taking the Channel Tunnel to Calais and onward to stay with Loes's brother in Amsterdam. Chance for her to catch up with family friends and do some new sightseeing, including a 5 hour drive east to Kassel in Germany to visit Loes's sister.

We have visitors from Switzerland. Jill is from the States and Alex from the UK. They've not been to The Lakes before and would like a morning or afternoon walk to enjoy the area with their new 3 month old son. Over supper at The Kirkstile we decide that the weather would be perfect for a stroll around Buttermere for them.

With a small committee to help me, we arranged a bus trip to the South Lakes and a visit to two major attractions, neither of which we've been to before. The day would start with a boat ride on the lake, lunch at Brantwood House and continue with an afternoon visit to the house and Gardens of the author, painter and environmentalist, the late John Ruskin. A surprise awaits the coach party as a fourth attraction is slipped into the mix.

On the Sunday morning Jen and Matt had planned a local excursion . . . the first stop of the morning was the Abbeydale Industrial Museum. We drove into the site and parked the car but I little realised the scale and importance of the location we had just entered. Sheffield is famous for quality steel making . . . and this was basically the place it all started.

A long, overdue visit to Sheffield to see Jenna, Matt and the grandchildren, Emily and Sophie. Saturday found Jenna, Matt and I doing some heavy digging and clearing in the back garden of Jenna's house, then on Sunday we had chance to relax and go to see the model trains and the Sheffield Heritage museum.

Loes and I were in Yorkshire for her birthday and we took the opportunity to see family and friends over the long weekend. I also had the chance to walk the longer perimeter walk around the immediate Harewood Estate. Access is often restricted on the Estate, but these are a mixture of public and permissive paths that do offer a great circular walk.

After weeks of searing heat and lack of rain we felt confident of suggesting a walk to Hen Comb. Unsurprisingly the first heavy rain for weeks had fallen the night before our walk and strong winds were forecast for the time we expected to reach high ground." Typical, you organise a 'dry weather' walk in advance and the weather changes on the day.

With the dry spring moving into a dry summer the rainfall is low and the rivers have reduced in size, often to a shadow of their former volume. Local pictures of Buttermere and Crummock during this period show how the lake levels also drop and old features of the lake bed are hinted at if not actually revealed.

Spring this year was particularly sunny and today was no exception. Morning jobs done and an early lunch taken, we headed out for a walk. Loes always talked about the walks she'd done from Giggle Alley . . .so game for a giggle, we travelled over to Eskdale. No plans, just head up onto the side fells of the Eskdale Valley and see where we end up.

May is the season of bluebells so we go in search. The weather has been very warm and dry so the prospects are not good. First I climb Brackenthwaite How (Scale Hill) but then on Bank Holiday Tuesday Loes wanted to visit the Rannerdale. Three good reasons to climb Rannerdale Knotts that day, as you'll find out as the story unfolds.

The Village Hall organised a VE Day +80 Celebration on Bank Holiday Monday. In traditional style the village set to, "put the flags out", dressed the Hall, dressed themselves, got cooking and turned up on the Monday lunchtime for a village get-together to celebrate the day, a day that included singing and dancing and a fly-past.

My Nephew Sam and his wife and two children were in The Lakes for Easter, staying in Keswick. Unfortunately Lucy had to return home for work but on Easter Tuesday Sam, Josh and Lily came over for a fell walk. The choice of fell was up to them. Abi, Tom and Loes are also there at the start of the walk.

Easter Sunday and we'd been joined by Loes's daughter Danielle and her partner Peter. Tom, Abi and Peter fancied a higher walk so Whiteside and Hopegill were selected as they are prominent fells seen from our part of the Valley. Unfortunately Tom's leg injury was playing up so he and Abi changed plans soon after the start.

After yesterday's fell walk, Tom and Abi really wanted to experience the thrills of the Honister Via Ferrata. There are three on offer at the Mine, the original, the Extreme and the new "Climb the Mine", all the fun of the climb but underground. As I had not done the new one, Tom suggested that would be a good one for all three of us to do.

Typical . . . we've had a spell of fine weather but on the run up to Easter the forecast changed and cloud and cool temperatures were on the cards. Fortunately the actual weather wasn't as bad as expected for Abi and Tom's visit and their first day out they wanted to climb a mountain. Rannerdale was the ascent of choice.

Loes's daughter's partner Peter has a big-0 birthday and they invited us to join them on a weekend of celebration in Scotland. Danielle had booked two adjacent chalets on the outskirts of St Andrews, famous as the home of Scottish and for that matter, world golf. This weekend he has a chance for that dream to come true.

There comes a time in everyone's life that things don't work so well, get a little moth-eaten and fail to do what they used to do, the same applies to sheds ! Sadness follows the demise but then new beginnings bring the chance of a whole new life, a fresh start, a clean slate, but first you have to clear a shed of all its rubbish and promise to throw things away !

Loes had an appointment in Otley so we drove over to Harewood for the weekend and took the chance to see friends and walk somewhere different.The first walk I did was a short but interesting one along the high ground that overlooks the Wharf Valley.The Sun was high but the bright weather held a passing shower, hidden amongst the high cloud.

Little did we know that the sunny, dry weather of the end of March would be as settled as it turned out to be. We ventured over to Borrowdale to do a local round that I had not done before . . . Grange to the Chinese Bridge at Lodore and back via Manesty. This was a great little walk yet provides some classic views and iconic places.

The spring weather is beautiful this year and with an offer of a lift to the far end of Loweswater, I had the chance of an extended linear walk through the woods to home. No particular time limit so I'll see where my feet take me. I've had an early lunch at home so no particular rush to get back.

The fine weather continues but most of us are on light duties, Dougal included, so it a walk with a difference , to the seaside. The Tourist Board always want folk to spread out and enjoy all aspects of Cumbria, and after today you can tell why. We only just scratch the surface of what Maryport had to offer.

A drive to Keswick found us returning via Honister, where I stopped for a brief walk for Dougal and to appreciate the fine weather. The following day Loes and I walked locally and the fine weather continued and the camera just couldn't stay in the pocket. Two local walks while we were busy doing other things.

On-going felling of diseased larch trees has left a hole in Holme Woods where the Pheasant's Eye used to be. In order to maintain the unique artistic feature of the woodland, the area needs replanting with contrasting colour, so John, Rosamund and Mark of the National Trust have co-ordinated another Loweswater community planting day,

I'm expecting family to stay for the next few days, my youngest daughter Jenna and her partner Matt, plus three grandchildren, my eldest in his thirties (who's here with his wife) and my two youngest who are two and just under one year old. The forecast is for sunny weather so some good local walks are in prospect.

During the last few weeks there has been some great weather, nicely cold and clear. The wintery weather has left snow on the high fells and skiing has apparently been good at the ski tow on Helvellyn's eastern slopes. Over here we have at last got some reasonable weather to enable me to work and walk in the sunshine.

"Start at Scawgill / Spout Force car park on the western side of the pass and then head east up forest tracks before turning south after passing Tarbarrel Moss and heading out onto the open fell side. While it's not very long, the ascents are slightly more challenging than I had perhaps first thought, so I guess it is actually closer to a 'B+' than a B."

February has been a busy month for us here in this quiet backwater of The Lakes. I've been so busy that walks have been a bit local and repetitive so new photos have been few. However, we've had several interesting walks, with friends and on my own, for which I offer the following photos.

The great thing about The Mockerkin Mob at present is that it gets me out of the house, or should I say out of the cottage, when I'm far too busy doing other, less important things. Better weather and an easier walk plan this day has also encouraged more Mob members to join in this outing compared to the last.

I was in Keswick as the car needed a service. It was a beautifully sunny, winter's morning with the last of the overnight frost covering the grass in Hope Park. A walk round for an hour or so would pass the time nicely while the garage did the work. Dougal would appreciate a walk too, so rather than leave him at home, I opted for a stroll out to the lake.

The Mockerkin Mob, our local walking group is rather depleted at present and Storm Eowyn on Friday left several homes in the valley, including mine, without power. Some weren't yet re-connected, so as a consequence several potential walkers sent their apologies for this "A" walk today. As a result it was a select band of two and a trusty dog that set out for today's winter walk around the Whinlatter Fells.

At one time, Cumbria was part of Scotland, but at other times, part of Scotland were English, so the border has moved over the years. This night it edged south for a few hours as Loweswater Village Hall seemed to be invaded by men in kilts and ladies sporting tartan sashes.It's Burns Night and the Loweswater 77 Club is in celebratory mood.

After Clitheroe, Cathy and Mark continued north and joined me here in Loweswater for a few days. The weather had taken a turn for the worse, as it had all across the country, but we still had chance to get out for a low level walk and a trip to Cogra Moss was one they hadn't done since the new path had been completed.

An invite for Loes and I to travel down to Wiswell near Clitheroe in Lancashire today. The plan was to walk with my daughter and her friends, stay overnight ,and then travel back to Cumbria. The first part went to plan except that Loes's knee was playing up and thought she travelled down to Wiswell, in the end she wasn't able to join us on the walk.

Another day of blue skies and sunshine, below zero temperatures and plenty of snow on the fells. The valley and lowland roads were clear but ice was a problem after the wet winter. Newlands and Honister Passes were closed but we thought we'd combine a trip to see friends in Buttermere with a drive up the valley as far as we could safely get.

The weather is beautiful and the next best thing to a walk in the snow is a drive in snowy scenery.We head out, ostensibly to call into the shops in Keswick, but end up extending the drive and shopping a different day.In the sunshine and with a good covering of snow the high fells are looking superb.

The snow was beckoning, so after a morning of shopping and other domestic duties I had the chance to get out for a walk. Low Fell, like all the Cumbrian Fells, had an extra layer of snow fall on them last night and the little snow down here at valley level belied what there was much higher up. I would walk to The Lonesome Pine and then take it from there.

With additional contributions from many of you I managed to donate £600 to our good causes this year.

As before, I donated £1 from every calendar sold to Mountain Rescue and Air Ambulance charities, check out the results . . . and of course a huge thank you to you all.