Loweswater Chronicle, Wetherlam via Steel Edge
We motored to the South Lakes today to meet up with Dave Dimmock who was on holiday in Skelwith Bridge. Our walking route was only decided over a cup of tea before the start... Wetherlam from Tilberthwaite.

Loweswater Chronicle, Mellbreak with Sean
We started this walk in windproof gear but packed the waterproofs in view of the forecast.  We certainly needed them by the end, and sometimes an anchor would have helped.

Loweswater Chronicle, An afternoon on Middle Fell
An early lunch today meant that we could get down to Wasdale for an afternoon walk. I wonder what today's sunset will bring?

Loweswater Chronicle, With Dave up Langdale Pikes
The brilliant winter sunshine continues and we join David again, or did he join us, for a walk around the classic Langdale Pikes.

Loweswater Chronicle, Mini OFC meet on High Rigg
David and Ros chose High Rigg as one of their planned walks during their Lakes visit and we were kindly invited along. Someone said we knew the way. If the truth be known, we left all that to John! We're joined by Terry as well.

Loweswater Chronicle, Red Screes with Jill and David
Steady on... This fine weather is getting predictable and we were able to plan a walk the day before and what's more, complete it exactly as expected! That plan was to walk Red Screes and Middle Dodd.

Loweswater Chronicle, Local to home - Crummock hovering
After yesterday's big car journey we chose not use the car at all today. The fine weather is getting repetitive... we didn't take waterproof coats either!

Wetherlam from Tilberthwaite with Richard Ratcliffe
An ascent of Wetherlam from any direction will offer plenty of points of interest. I decided to take a fairly well know route from Tilberthwaite, starting just after 8am. The mining heritage is abundant and there is a fine memorial bench encountered early on the walk, can't recall the poor fella's name, but he was only 19.  It took me two hours to get to the top of Wetherlam, a slowish pace due to the amount of exploring on offer.  I was buzzed by a Hawk Trainer (I think) - it passed over the summit at something like 250 feet, as usual my camera was out of reach when most in need. From here it was on to Swirl How and next it was Great Carrs.  I have never seen the aircraft wreckage before and it is quite thought provoking.  Nowadays it would warrant an "Aircrash Investigation" episode on Discovery Channel.

Some clown was celebrating a birthday on top of Great Carrs, I saw a slice of Bakewell with a pink candle sticking out of it, very strange.  My descent took me off the path and down into Greenburn where I spent some time investigating the old mining buildings, shortly afterwards I went through a gate with a sign saying "Scheduled Ancient Monument" do not climb on the buildings!  There should be a sign at the other end as well. Just short of Slater's Bridge, I took the track back over to Tilberthwaite and completed my walk in 6.5 hours.

All the walks I've done in the Lake District are special, they are sometimes months apart and rarely done in poor weather, as much time is spent preparing for the walk and sorting through the photographs as is spent on the walk. I hope my health and fitness keep pace with my enthusiasm for the fells for as long as possible.

Loweswater Chronicle, Wall to Wall Sunshine - Steel Rigg
After visiting the fort and museum we pile in the car and travel a mile north for a walk along the Roman Wall itself. "Wall to Wall" sunshine still, through till sunset.

Loweswater Chronicle, Wall to Wall Sunshine - Vindolanda
With family visiting, we all decided to drive to see Hadrian's Wall. An hour's drive north from our part of Cumbria, and inland a bit, found us in the heart of Roman Wall country.

Loweswater Chronicle, Sunshine with a difference on Blake Fell
Ann, Jo, Jayne and Max set out on a walk that was full of anticipation. The day was planned before the weather forecast was known, but we woke to find a cold misty morning. Hopefully the weather will improve.

Loweswater Chronicle, Sunshine on Great Borne, Ennerdale
Jo was staying for the weekend and the forecast was for fine weather at last. We decided to walk in Ennerdale today and take advantage of the almost spring-like sunshine.

Loweswater Chronicle, Harter Fell in the sunshine
A good weather forecast at last so we drive south to Eskdale for a walk up Harter Fell. Feeling a little stiff from the lack of long walks recently, today would be a good chance to get back into better fell walking fitness.

Loweswater Chronicle, An afternoon walk to Whinlatter
The fine weather continues to evade the Lake District but we get out for a slightly protected walk in Whinlatter forest, climbing to Whinlatter's summit in the strong breeze, and then back to the relative calm of the woodland tracks.

Fairfield Horseshoe with Andy Wallace
It was just damp when I left home but the forecast for the Cumbrian Fells
was snow showers and gales, it could be an interesting day. I parked at Rydal Mount, just cross the road from the gates to Rydal Hall, and set off along the track through the grounds; I took the small path up to join the ridge wall leading to Low Pike and High Pike in increasingly snowy conditions. I walked up to Dove Crag in increasingly blizzard-like spindrift and make an awkward ascent of High Crag having to deal with difficult strong gusts of wind.
Fairfield was bleak, windswept and no place to hang around; the descent over Great Rigg and Heron Pike got easier as the wind eased and the final descent from Nab Scar was just as steep and slippery as ever.

Loweswater Chronicle, A cold Binsey after some snow
The walk up from Binsey Cottage to the summit is always good for an hour's walk and today we almost didn't take the camera as it had been a grey sort of day in Loweswater.