Newlands Horseshoe with Robinson & High Spy's shrinking cairn

Today's forecast wasn't particularly favourable and at the start with Dale Head, Hindscarth & Robinson shrouded in cloud it didn't look promising. A large number of my walks towards the end of 2013 have been blighted by cloud, uncharacteristically the final one of the year didn't follow suit. The wind was a bit icy & the tops busy but at least the cloud lifted & remained clear. 

The track leading to Yewthwaite Mine below Yewthwaite Combe...

Helvellyn - More wandering in cloud

If the doomsayers (weather forecasters) where to be believed than today was to be the last 'fine' day before a week or more of stormy weather. Even then it was only foretold till lunchtime, hence the early start to grab the forecast clear skies - Southern & Western Fells weren't even given this chance .

Its been a few months since I was last over Helvellyn and since this may be the last outing for a week or two I wanted it to be on a few good hills. As usual I parked in the free layby and avoided the LDNPA car parks like the plague, ok there is a short unpleasant walk beside the A591 but for a saving of £7 for a day's parking, its worth it.

Early morning view back down to Thirlmere, Skiddaw is nice & clear...

A Round of Southerndale - Skiddaw

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...

Aiming low - Sale & Ling Fell

Only a short walk today, for two reasons the cloud base was, as forecast,  low and the poor weather was to deteriorate even further as the day progressed. Sale & Ling Fell are an ideal choice for when every else is clagged up, it was also today's choice for a mountain bike orienteering event - a sport I'd previously never heard of.

Sale Fell over Burthwaite Woods from the climb up Ling Fell...

Skiddaw - Usual conditions prevail!

It was the day before what was being billed as 'the worst storm for 60 years' and the forecast was looking reasonable. XCWeather & the Met Office had big fat yellow suns on Keswick, MWIS predicted a 70% chance of cloud free summits, cloud base of about 800m possibly lower in passing showers of drizzle - certainly the calm before the storm. 

Away from fictional forecasts, reality wasn't as kind; although the cloud was rising rapidly. The lower summits of Bakestall, Ullock Pike & Longside Edge all cleared as I approached and parked at Peter House Farm. However it soon obscured them completely.

The track up Dash Valley...

Misty Matterdale Common - The Eastern Dodds

The first of December, the dark nights are closing in as the shortest day approaches & unfortunately there doesn't seem to be any let up in the miserable damp dank weather. Its time winter finally arrived, but December began the same as November finished.

According to MWIS the highest cloud base could be found in the Far Eastern Fells so it was a surprise to see the Dodds cloud free and the hills over Ullswater hidden in grey - a quick U-Turn found us parked in Dockray. Originally this was going to be a round of Deepdale & Dowthwaite Head but a brief aspect of Clough Head from Great Dodd enticed us with the chance of the only summit view of the day, as expected it clouded over.

Looking down onto Dockray from Watermillock Common...