Long Side Edge & Dodd - More cloud dodging

With a predicted forecast of depressingly low cloud & a risk of showers by lunchtime, coupled with a late start due to work commitments today was never going to a great day. Just to darken my mood even more my walking partner wanted to tick Dodd off his remaining Wainwrights, Dodd unfortunately ranks amongst my most hated Wainwrights. However on the plus side I had convinced him to approach Dodd along Longside Edge with the option of a quick nip up Skiddaw if the cloud held off -  typically it didn't.

The path from Ravenstone to The Edge...

A quick dash up Gummer's How

Had to be in Windermere this morning so thought I'd take advantage with an opportunist Marilyn & Wainwright Outlier - managed to sneak my usual walking partner along too :)

I started from the Forestry Commission car park so the car did most of the work. Very easy going on a good path although I had a look at picking off the Birkett of Birch Fell but with hindsight should have brought my boots as it was wet & boggy  so didn't bother. Good views and a worthwhile short climb although not worth making a long trip for by itself.

Not much going on beside Windermere...

Castlerigg Stone Circle

Travelling home over Dunmail Raise and along Thirlmere, I was treated to a natural lights show as shafts of sunlight broke through the clouds. I decided Castlerigg Stone Circle would be a great foreground for the crepuscular rays and made the short detour, of course 'sods law' dictates the light show would have ended. Surprisingly I managed to grab a couple of pictures without the usual visitors in shot.

Fantastic Fairfield & the Rydal Horsehoe

Blessed with another fine forecast it was a little disappointing to see cloud on many of the higher fells. Travelling South to find cloud free summits, found us over Dunmail Pass - a choice between the Langdale Fells (walked only a few days before) or the Rydal Fells. Obviously everybody else had made the same decision as these hills where very busy!

A sun soaked Windermere from Nab Scar...

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...

A round of Greenburn

I had watched the long range forecast for today see-saw back & forth between sun & heavy rain, as the week progressed even the short range forecast was indecisive! I awoke to rain and as I passed under Skiddaw the wind screen wipers were on full speed, as I headed South through the Lakes it became brighter. With the rain now passed it was time to dump the car and go for a walk.

Helm Crag from Easedale...

First snow on the Ennerdale - Buttermere watershed

A walk along the Ennerdale-Buttermere watershed, with a poor forecast it was originally intended to be a crossing of Great Borne & Starling Dodd. As the cloud lifted suddenly from Red Pike it seemed a shame not to include it, from there it would be rude not to include High Stile & High Crag. A flurry of snow greeted us on the summit of High Crag, the first of the season but overall better weather than forecast. As always the six mile trudge along the forestry road back to Bowness Knott car park seemed longer than it was.

The start of climb up Bowness Knott...