Catstye Cam from Patterdale

A New Year's Eve Walk - 8.5 miles 2760ft  - 
A perfect finale to a grand year of walks 

Looking back to the start in Patterdale from the climb
to the 'Hole in the Wall'

Zooming in on a frosty scene around Grisedale Beck bridge

Catstye Cam in the sun with Helvellyn behind
from the 'Hole in the Wall' 

Red tarn with Striding edge leading to Helvellyn

It looks like one of these brave or perhaps foolish walkers had more sense and turned back on Striding edge!

Starting the path up to Swirral edge before....

....turning to the north on the ridge to Catstye Cam summit 890m (2920ft) 

The view from the summit along the ridge to Swirral Edge and Helvellyn summit 950m

Ullswater from the summit

Catstye Cam summit as the descent begins

Ullswater again from Birkhouse Moor 718m (2356ft)

Patterdale from the Moor and....

....Glenridding ferry landing....

 ....and Place Fell....

....and High Street on the horizon

A final look back up Grisedale before descending to Patterdale 

The Blencathra Ridge in all its Winter glory! 8.5miles 3500ft ascent

Starting the ridge walk from Threlkeld on the path up Blease fell

Latrigg and Derwentwater from Blease fell

Looking south to the sun breaking through above Clough Head 

Sunshine on two of the Bassentwaite fells,
Lords Seat and Broom fell

Cloud on a very Snowy Skiddaw

Looking ahead along the Blencathra ridge

Zooming in on Halls Fell Top

Looking along the ridge to Knowe Crags

The ridge continues ahead....

....and behind

Looking down Middle Tongue

Any loose snow was whipped up by the icy gale force winds....

Snow and dramatic cloud formations in every direction....

....and again, now on Atkinson pike, the end of the ridge

Then the view back to Atkinson pike after a knee deep (occasionally waist deep in snow) tiring descent! 

Passing the Glenderamackin valley....

.... before the final path down through Mousthwaite Comb to the
White Horse at Scales

A climb up Warcop fell in the Warcop firing range - 8.5miles 1600ft

Setting off from the hamlet of Hilton near Appleby-in-Westmorland

The entrance to the range is clearly marked by Red Flags flying at
the gateways - safe to enter today!

...over Hilton beck.

Lots of room for 'Meanderthals' to take a bridge photo here...

Footpaths in the range are clearly marked and 'should' be kept on,
now heading into Swindale... 

...before climbing Swindale edge.

The view opens up to the Eden valley with Appleby below...

 ...and Murton pike (1939ft) across the tops.

The summit of Warcop fell now in sight as well.

The route of descent into Hayber gill is seen from the summit
(2041ft)

The path leads down past Dogber tarn...

 ...with clear warnings why it's safer not to stray too far from the
path!

The path soon becomes a clear track with good views back to the
fells...

The sun is just setting as the train home crosses the river Lune in
Lancaster... 

 ...and again approaching Preston