Wansfell Pike and environs from Ambleside 9.5 miles 2,600ft

With a forecast of gale force winds, blizzard conditions and wind chill of -18c for the high summits, today was definitely a day to stay on the lower slopes.

Climbing out of Ambleside with snow covering the fells of the
Fairfield Horseshoe 

A brief moment of sun on the Langdale Pikes

Dramatic cloud breaks with the sun breaking through...

...and again

Windermere from the summit of Wansfell Pike 482m, 1581ft

A light covering of snow here but a fierce cold wind

Descending from the cold... 

... towards the village of Troutbeck

Some of the sheep brought down off the high fells

The little-visited but beautiful Middlerigg Tarn

Adventure in the treetops at the
Lakeland Visitor Centre on Windermere

Looking to Bowfell and the Langdales from the lakeside....  

....and south into the sun

A short climb to Jenkin Crag for a view of the Coniston fells...

...and Crinkle Crags in the Langdale valley....

..then a short descent back into Ambleside.

A circuit of the Greenburn fells 9.75 miles 3550ft

Setting off up Wet Side Edge waiting for the sun to appear....

 ....then suddenly all is light.... 

....but not for long as the cloud came down before arriving at the
summit of Grey Friar 770m, 2526ft

A short climb later the memorial to the crew of a Halifax bomber
appears. The plane just missed clearing the top of Great Carrs (2575ft) claiming the lives of all 8 RAF crew.

and again

There still remains some of the wreckage on the site

The route continued from Great Carrs summit to Swirl How

Where I was still surrounded by cloud!

From Swirl how there is a steep descent down Prison Band....

....with views to Levers water below the Coniston fells

The final climb of the day leads up Wetherlam 2502ft....

....with views back to Swirl How and Great Carrs still catching the
cloud

Lingmoor fell (of recent acquaintance with Danny) comes into view from Wetherlam, also Blea tarn and Little Langdale tarn

Fell Foot farm finally in view where the car awaits, phew!

Penrith Beacon and its environs - 6.5miles 700ft

Starting the walk at Eamont Bridge in the village
of the same name

The view from the river to Beacon Hill
to be reached later in the walk

Then downstream to Castle Bridge....

....to pass Brougham Castle on the site of the old Roman fort of
Brocavum  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brocavum

The fort and the later castle were built strategically at the
intersection of three Roman roads and two rivers

The route then went north up muddy fields to climb Beacon Hill (oh for some solid lakeland rock underfoot!)

The hill was not unlike our own Beacon fell....

....except that it had this monument built in 1719 on the spot
where beacons were lit in times of war....

...clearly seen by the people of Penrith below and the surrounding
area.