A circuit of Ilkley Moor: 9.5miles 2000ft 

  On the way to Ilkley I stopped briefly in Skipton to have a look at the Christmas lights 

After parking in Ilkley I first climbed to White Wells. The wells hereabouts were responsible for Ilkley becoming a spa town

Looking down to Ilkley from Ilkley Crags

The Cow & Calf quarry......

.......just as the sun came up by the Cow & Calf pub.....

......and the Cow & Calf rocks

I then followed the Ebor Way path on the edge of the moor with a view to Burley in Wharfedale

It was then time to start climbing up onto the top of the moor following Coldstone beck

There were many grouse butts on the moor and the building here is the where the shooting party take lunch 

Passing Lanshaw water....

.....on the way to the Twelve Apostles stone circle

Ilkley Moor summit trig point 402m 1319ft 

Looking east from the summit I could see the tracking and communication station of RAF Menwith Hill

This old stone cross is thought to date from 16th century. It was damaged by a lightning strike and repaired to its present form in the 19th century

Finally Ilkley comes into view again as I head down off the moor.  After a very wet week I managed to have this interesting walk with only one brief rain shower.

Wythburn (Thirlmere) to Keswick via Bell crags, Watendlath & Derwentwater: 13.5miles 2300ft

After parking by the Portinscale suspension bridge I walked into Keswick and caught the bus to Wythburn by the side of Thirlmere.  I then climbed  beside Dob Gill on the old bridleway leading to Watendlath. Here I'm looking west across Thirlmere towards the Helvellyn range 

Dobgill flows out of Harrop tarn and I had to cross the outflow by means of these very wet and slippery stones. After taking great care, a short prayer and some time to cross safely I turned to look down stream and.....

.....spotted this bridge hiding  just a few yards away!!! 

Above the tarn and plantation I was high enough to catch a little sunshine over Tarn crags

A short deviation but not without considerable effort in climbing off the bridleway, I arrived at the summit of Bell crags 559m 1834ft.

The view back down to Harrop tarn and Thirlmere

Back on the bridleway I passed Blea tarn still partly frozen despite the overnight rise in temperature

Looking back to Bell crags from Blea tarn

Descending to Watendlath with Bassenthwaite on the horizon

Watendlath tarn and farm....

.....and again

Leaving the tarn behind I crossed the packhorse bridge and followed Watendlath beck to......                   

High Lodore bridge arriving at a nice time for lunch
 

Derwentwater from the path down to the lakeside

 

Crossing the river Derwent flowing into the lake with Skiddaw on the horizon....

.....and following the lakeside path  on the west side of the Derwentwater

 

Nichol End marina with Skiddaw Little Man on the horizon

Finally back at the suspension bridge where the car was parked on the other side.

 A circuit from Grasmere:

Steel Fell, Calf Crag, Sergeant Man & Blea Rigg. 11.5miles 3,300ft. A bitterly cold day with a -16c windchill recorded on the high fells, but a fantastic day's walking!

Starting the climb up Steel Fell leaving Grasmere village behind

Passing beneath Helm Crag with the Lion & Lamb summit rocks

The sun appears over Lord Crag after I've gained height....

....and now looking down on Helm Crag

Seat Sandal and Dollywagon Pike above Dunmail Raise  

The summit shelter on Steel Fell 1814ft with Thirlmere to the north and Skiddaw & Blencathra on the Horizon

Heading across the summit ridge from Steel Fell to Calf Crag

Looking back along the ridge from Calf Crag summit 1715ft with the snow capped Helvellyn range behind

Further climbing now to Sergeant Man. There was no snow on these fells today and their white appearance was from rime ice formed when tiny droplets of water in the atmosphere are suddenly turned very cold

Zooming in on the rime ice

Bow Fell from the summit of Sergeant Man. The Great Slab is clearly visible just below and left of the summit

Meet Roland from Staffodshire enjoying the views from the summit 2414ft

The descent to Grasmere took me along Blea Rigg passing above Stickle tarn....

....with great views over the rugged fells and misty valleys to the west

 Pavey Ark and Harrison Stickle above Stickle tarn

Finally returning to Grasmere above Easedale  tarn before descending via the  Blind tarn Moss path

Loughrigg & Silver How: A circuit in Langdale from Skelwith Bridge 11.5miles 2700ft

After parking at the Skelwith Bridge hotel I made the short climb to Loughrigg tarn. It was lovely clear but very cold early morning.

The sun was just catching Wetherlam....

....and the Langdale pikes....

....and Crinkle crags & Shelter crag

As I gained height on Loughrigg fell the Coniston fells came in to view

Looking north west from the summit of Loughrigg with Silver How in the middle distance

Looking south into the sun to Windermere

....and again

Grasmere from the descent of Loughrigg to Red Bank

The first snows of the winter forming a light covering on Dollywagon behind the lower summit of Seat Sandal

The outflow from Grasmere and the start of the river Rothay

Grasmere village and lake with Rydal water behind

The snow today was only on the very highest fells such as  Helvellyn and Fairfield seen here with a very light covering. The fell top condition assessors who climb Helvellyn every day later reported a wind chill of almost -10c. It didn't feel much different standing here on Silver  How!

Grasmere village centre from Silver How

I met this lovely couple on Silver How summit the first walkers I'd seen that morning.  "Hope your selfie came out well!" 

I then crossed the ridge back to the Langdale aspect taking in the little tops of Lang How & Swinescar Pike with a good view to Crinkle crags again....

....and the Langdale pikes

I then descended into Langdale down a superbly engineered zig-zag path beside Swinescar gill seen here from the valley floor 

The final few miles took me down the length of Great Langdale passing Elterwater and then back to Skelwith Bridge