A Pendle Sunrise

Traffic jams & a busy week expected 

so a walk near home this week.

7miles 1700ft 

Arriving at the layby parking area, I realised I wasn't alone with this idea for a walk!

Walking up the path towards Pendle Side farm, it was just beginning to come light....

....Pendle Hill with a smattering of snow appeared through the gloom

Arriving on the summit the sky began to colour with the lights of Burnley below....

....the first sign of the sun...

....and then a little more above Black Moss reservoirs

....Finally the summit trig point (1827ft) came into the sunlight

Looking north from just below the summit

Black Moss reservoirs again....

....but I was heading for the Ogden reservoirs

The overflow channel between the upper & lower reservoirs

Following the path along side the lower reservoir

Looking back to Pendle Hill on the way to.....

....the Cabin cafe in the village of Barley

....The Pendle Inn across the village beck...

....with its inn sign depicting the 'Pendle Witches'

A last view of Pendle Hill as it slowly disappeared under a drizzly cloud.

It's locally joked that "If you can't see Pendle Hill from Burnley, It's raining. If you can see it then it's about to"

Finally I just want to wish my readers a 

VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR.

 

 Day 8 Clapham to Cockermouth Walk

Patterdale to Swirls, Thirlmere

11.5miles 2750ft

Leaving Patterdale on a drizzly but mild morning

Grisedale beck in full flow with all the recent rain

I would now be following the coast to coast path as far as Grisedale tarn

Starting to climb into Grisedale

Looking back down the valley

More becks in full flow

Arriving at Ruthwaite Lodge outward bound hut

The stepping stones across the outflow from Grisedale tarn. In better weather I'd have been taking the high level route over Helvellyn from this point

Grisedale tarn with the outflow in the distance...

....and again

Descending Raise beck....

....with Dunmail Raise pass below

I'd just sat down here on Dunmail Raise when the rain fell heavier and interrupted my lunch!

Looking across Steel End

Entering the forest trail on the east side of  Thirlmere

Continuing north along the trail with some lovely views along the way.....  

Finally arriving at Swirls car park for my lift back to Patterdale. The Swirls route from Helvellyn finishes here

In more pleasant weather this would have been an excellent route with the option of taking in Helvellyn along the way. 

Nevertheless it was still a very enjoyable walk even though my sandwiches were rather soggy!!

 Day 7 Clapham to Cockermouth Walk

Mardale Head to Patterdale

8 miles 3350ft

Looking back to Mardale Head 

Haweswater as I started up the Riggindale ridge

Kidsty Pike across Riggindale, the coast to coast path comes along that ridge 

Arriving at Blea Water

Haweswater again

The rest of the ridge still to be climbed

Two of the stags in herd of deer on the fellside

Passsing by a very hard-frozen pool.... 

....with some great patterns in the ice!

Now looking down on Blea Water

Arriving at Riggindale ridge summit cairn....

....with High Street trig point (2717ft) a short walk away

Looking south to Windermere & the Kentmere fells

....and north to the Straits of Riggindale

Looking down into Hartsop with the central fells behind 

Brotherswater at the bottom of Kirkstone pass

Sat having my rather late lunch at Angle tarn, the Fairfield and Helvellyn ranges behind

Brotherswater again below.... 

....and Hayeswater to the south

The Ullswater lake ferry

Patterdale & Glenridding

Finally crossing Goldrill beck into Patterdale      This was as fine a day's winter walking as I've had for a long time. The weather and variety of scenery made for stunning day out in our magnificent lakeland!