Hill Wanderings - Walking in the Lakes: A Round of Southerndale

Less than a hour earlier, I had been complaining about the lasts months weather, usually a few good days make up for the bad days - however this winter there hasn't been enough good days to compensate. Cue opening the curtains as the sun came up to moderately clear skies full of early morning pinks & peaches, this is where the hill vs Christmas shopping diplomacy began. After extensive talks and bargaining a deal was struck - a quick dash up a hill (my favourite hobby) followed by a stint of Christmas shopping (my least favourite hobby) with wifey. I had planned a quick up & down of Grisedale Pike but Skiddaw was too tempting...

Southerndale, the pink-peach colour display now over with...

Skiddaw's North West Ridge - the quieter route up Skiddaw...

the lumps on this ridge unlike The Edge are individually named : Little Knott, Great Knott & Buzzard Knott...

gradually steepens as Randel Crag is reached...

Broad End, and an indication of the angle of the climb...

stone man on the plateau and a brief respite from the climb...

the oddly named Gibraltar Crag, the views may not be great but this is a direct route...

any previous lack of views are quickly forgotten, pleased I'm not on Blencathra...

or Great Calva...

Skiddaw's summit...

Skiddaw Little Man, low level cloud over Thirlmere...

even Loncscale Fell has a patch of cloud...

alone on the summit...

Derwentwater & Keswick escape the inversion...

the old path to Carlside Col has fallen out of favour with walkers but has now been adopted by mountain bikers, almost tempting to wipe the cobwebs off my bike and put some air in the tyres...