Delamere

A squelch around Delamere Forest, along with most of the canine and equine population of England.

Delamere elevation

Delamere route

Missed most of the sunrise on the way but we just managed to catch some of the golden hour in the forest.

Early morning sun in Delamere Forest

Early morning sun in Delamere Forest

Early morning sun in Delamere Forest

Early morning sun in Delamere Forest

Early morning sun in Delamere Forest

 After that is was low, blinding sun for the rest of the day, along with lots of Gruffalos.

Which is which?!

Low sun over the mere

Backlit Gill

Llangollen

Back to Llangollen again. Not a particularly long route but lots of up and down that adds up. Finished by early afternoon, which is useful as the rush hour traffic on the Runcorn bridge is terrible.

Llangollen route

Llangollen elevation

The low sun was blinding most of the time and our peaked caps didn't really block it very well. There were still patches of frost on the grass under shade.

Frosty grass in the shade

Castell Dinas Bran

Castell Dinas Bran

View from the Castell towards Llangollen and distant hills

Looking through the archway (with a 14mm lens I was practically in the archway)

Bands of Limestone in the Eglwyseg Rocks

Cottage next to the canal on a frosty morning

Sunglasses required

Following in the footsteps of many a climber

Place Fell

An entirely new walk for both of us, going up to Place Fell near Ullswater. An early morning drive over the Kirkstone Pass then parking at Patterdale. Luckily not much traffic on the way over.

Place Fell route

Place Fell elevation

The southern fells were swirling in mist and low cloud with the blinding low winter sun shining down on them.

A meagre sunrise at the start of the walk

Haze and cloud

Looking down the Ullswater valley towards Brotherswater

Helvellyn and the edge of Ullswater, looking west

The sun streaming down on the fells

The sun streaming down on the fells

Another peak

 On the way up we spotted at least 30 Red Deer, grazing on the slopes of Place Fell. A fox ran past the herd as well, although not trying for any of the deer.

Red Deer Herd

The higher path on the way back to Patterdale

Tarn Hows and Black Crag

We drove round to Tarn Hows very early to see if we could get a nice sunrise. Of course not! Very dull and uninspiring but we persevered. After that we went for a walk to Black Crag and back again. We kept bumping into three belted galloway cows on the way round Tarn Hows. Not sure if they were supposed to be there, all their chums were up on the hills on the other side of a fence.

Tarn Hows and Black Crag elevation

Tarn Hows and Black Crag route

No better shots than the last time we were here, but good practice.

Tree in Tarn Hows

View of Tarn Hows looking south west from the centre

Tarn Hows from the eastern hillside

Tarn Hows from the eastern hillside

Trees in Tarn Hows

An (almost) perfectly still Tarn Hows, looking north east

An old fashioned 'selfie' from Black Crag

View from Black Crag, towards Windermere

Lots of low sun once it had risen

More sun than you can shake a large stick at

Lingmoor Round

A variation of the Langdale Round, but instead of going around Lingmoor we go along it, then back round via Blea Tarn as usual. Although it should give good views of both valleys it's somewhat spoiled by a wall that runs along the spine of the fell. The path after the summit is also very narrow and sliding down rocks is required at times. Very quiet up there, but we probably we won't be going back in a hurry.

Lingmoor Round elevation

Lingmoor Round route

Quite misty and hazy to begin with but with strong, winter sunlight.

View of Wetherlam from the side of Lingmoor

View of Wetherlam and valley from side of Lingmoor

Langdale Pikes in the distance, the Great Wall of Lingmoor visible in front

Looking back towards Windermere from Lingmoor

Looking down on Chapel Stile, Thrang Brow can be seen from here (and vice versa)

The Squeeze on Side Pike

Proof that we're still fit and lithe

I didn't even have to suck in my stomach

The south side of Side Pike in all its glory

Mickleden Valley, The Band, Bow Fell, Langdale Pikes, Crinkle Crags and more (amazing what you can fit in with a 14mm lens)

Wetherlam again, with its omnipresent and ominous clouds

Very well deserved refreshments

We'd rested at the Three Shires a little longer than expected and by the time we were heading back over to Chapel Stile the sun was setting. Nothing spectacular but a pleasant change from continual grey clouds.

Sunset

Sunset

John and sunset