The forecast was for cold northwesterly winds with possible
snow showers on the fells.
The morning broke with a beautiful sunrise over a snowy Rannerdale
Knotts,
light which spread across the valley and lit the fells all
around with an orange glow.
The view from the cold garden . . . with interesting
cloud over the top of Great Gable.
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The cars are all frozen, the slight snow shower
had frozen solidly to everything.
No problem, we don't need to go anywhere special
today as the valley is looking so beautiful.
Time for a stroll around . . . starting at the
red phone box.
The view across to Mellbreak and Hen Combe.
St Bartholomew's Church and the white gable
end of The Kirkstile Inn, with Black Crag behind.
The roads are slippery so we head off across
the fields.
The paddock has had its winter hair cut and
is looking bare at the moment.
Godferhead Farm and looking down the Lorton
Valley to the whinlatter fells beyond Lorton Village.
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Old farm
walls and newer Loweswater buildings. |
Muncaster House and
Lanthwaite Woods. |
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The sun
shines brightly off the top of both Scale Hill and Whiteside. |
Loes walks the footpath
as the sheep move ahead of her. |
The moon is still out, high above Blake Fell.
A large beast stalks the top of Carling Knott
. . .
Okay, it was a much smaller crow on a closer
tree.
The cheery red door of Low Park House, nestled
under the northern end of Mellbreak.
Mellbreak Cottage looking across the valley
to Sand Hill in the gap.
It looks so different from when I was up there
just a week ago.
Looking back at Low Fell above the houses of
High Park.
Grasmoor always stands out, here seen between
two ancient oaks.
Low sun lighting the snow covered bracken alongside
the path.
Over the top and we are greeted by that familiar
view up Crummock Water
The name Crummock is thought to derive from
the fact that it is a "crooked" stretch of water.
The gentlest of breezes ripples the water as
we carefully descend to the lake.
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Calm waters
reflect Whiteside in the bay. |
Even with the heavy
frost there's still some running water around. |
Rannerdale Knotts across the lake.
The sun has moves across the sky since breakfast
time and now shines above High Stile.
The colours and reflections were beautiful this
morning.
After the recent rain the lake level is still
quite high and the beach is narrower than normal.
Time has taken its toll on the fallen tree as
well.
What used to be a large trunk and two
boughs propped up five foot above the beach is now reduced to
a snow covered, rotting log.
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Darth Vader
follows Kermit across the beach. |
A new path is developing
as the gorse narrows the lakeside path. |
However we stick to the old path and enjoy the close proximity
of the trees.
A photographer with tripod crouched for his perfect photo
of Grasmoor.
My photo included the local Mountain Rescue Team on maneuvers
on the face.
Only joking . . . I managed to include a passing skein of
geese as they flew up the valley, past the face of the mountain.
The now-redundant Pump House, as the valley has changed over
to Thirlmere drinking water.
The concrete wall around the lake up to this point was useful,
as the cinder path was flooded with several inches of storm
water.
The old oak on the corner beyond the Pump House.
Dougal returns to check I'm okay . . . I'm slow
because of the number of photos I've taken!
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Park Beck in its confined channel
. . . that may change in years to come. |
Across the way is the boathouse, in
the shade of the trees. |
Carling Knott, seen as we walk down to the weir.
The raised water level is causing spectacular
waves over the fish ladder, as Loes crosses the first bridge.
This stick failed to make it over the lip of
the weir.
The eel ladders were changed from white to black
a year or two ago and now look a lot less intrusive.
Looking into the suns after crossing the bridges.
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The high water level will prevent us
using the riverside path
so we head for the beach.
There my companion waits next to one
of the trees,
but turns when I call.
Now if only the dogs would do that every time
life would be a lot easier ;o)
Her down jacket reflects
the cool temperatures today,
despite the bright sunshine.
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The bend in the river leading over to the swimming
pool, is full to the brim.
Winter sunshine penetrates the woodland, adding
colour to the evergreens.
Grasmoor House and Jenkin House across the meadow.
Recent high water covered some of the fields,
but that had now receded and left a heavy frost today.
Fast water through the measuring weir . . .
. . . but levels are nowhere near the 2009 floods,
when the water backed up behind the bridge.
Very little traffic on the roads today . . .
I wonder why !
Looking back from the Loweswater Village sign
and finger post.
Nearly home now . . . just have to be be careful
of patches of black ice where recent puddles have been !
Distant views of the lake from the road, as
the sheep search for grass under the frost.
Back home, lunch in prospect, and there's full
sunshine and clear skies
where this morning there was an orange sunrise.