A quick jaunt up the Jaws of Borrowdale

Struggling with a sore hip (makes a change from a hurty knee) and a 30% chance of cloud free summits confirmed it was time for something a little lower & little shorter. A walk over Castle Crag & Grange Fell the 'Jaws of Borrowdale' may lack in height & distance but rewards with fine views.

Grange Bridge, despite the rain the level wasn't that high...

Glaramara to Seathwaite - First snowy wander of 2014

The forecast for today was pretty poor and as the day progressed it was meant to decline with blizzards & 90mph gusts forecast for the afternoon. As dire weather is now becoming the norm the only solution - an early start and a shortish route over Glaramara & Allen Crags should be finished before the weather closed in. Seathwaite Fell was included as a last minute summit so the 'weather' hit just after passing Styhead Tarn. Strangely only saw three people all day, there was only five cars parked at Seathwaite and ours was the only one parked near Thornythwaite Farm/Mountain View cottages.

Early morning: Comb Gill & Comb Head, better than forecast...

A perfect match : Winter sun & the Langdale Pikes

This was the best weekend forecast for around the last six weeks and with a thin dusting of snow on the Lakeland Fells it was impossible to resist. Great weather deserves great hills, and the Langdale Pikes never fail to disappoint. Originally hailing from Cockermouth a northerly approach from Stonethwaite is my usual route to these hills.

Eagle Crag from an icy Borrowdale...

Walla Crag to High Tove - The Central Tip

The forecast for today wasn't too hot, with low cloud forecast & a chance of rain. The four central Wainwrights on the Borrowdale/Thirlmere watershed where picked as hopefully they would be below the cloud & the walk could easily be cut short. As it turned out the cloud was higher than predicted around 2000ft and the rain never appeared. High Seat to High Tove is a pretty wet crossing & is best left till the ground is frozen.

Climbing beside Cat Gill...

Cat Bells to High Spy - The dog hits 600

A friend has just taken up hill-walking and asked me if I'd accompany him on a walk. I only had time for a short half day's walk so with an an early start: Cat Bells, Maiden Moor & High Spy where picked due to their fine views & relative ease. These would be my friend's 5,6 & 7th Wainwright & the 600th for my four legged walking companion. As the Newland Valley was still in shade (it doesn't see the sun once winter comes) we descended by the Rigghead Quarries to Borrowdale and returned to the car using the busy valley footpaths.

Cat Bells from Skellgill Bank...