Saturday 24th December 2005

Start point: Kiln Bank Cross (SD 215 933)

Kiln Bank Cross - Park Head Road - Long Mire - Pikes (OF) - Caw (OF) - Park Head Road - Kiln Bank Cross

Distance: 4 miles     Total Ascent: 300 metres     Time Taken: 1 hour 30 minutes

Weather: Bright and sunny with mist on the tops. 7oC.

Route Map

It was much brighter than of late today with clear blue skies and sunshine for a walk up to Caw from Kiln Bank Cross. On the ascent of Caw, the clouds suddenly came over and I was fortunate to witness two interesting phenomenon - a Brocken Spectre and (almost) a temperature inversion.

Looking over the Duddon Valley to The Pike and Hesk Fell under a thick blanket of cloud.

Caw from the slopes of Fox Haw. I climbed Caw from the south, up to the right of the photo.

Mountain dog finds the shapely summit of Pikes.

Looking south-east to the Leven Estuary, the low lying areas are under a blanket of cloud.

A ghostly apparition - a Brocken Spectre on Pikes

..and a close up. This phenomenon was constantly repeated as the sun shone through the mist as I walked from Pikes up to Caw.

Caw, clear of the mist now, on the approach from the east.

The Sca Fells, Esk Pike and Bow Fell across the temperature inversion in the Duddon Valley.

Another Brocken Spectre and the Sca Fells which now looked close enough to touch across the sea of cloud.

Stickle Pike, centre, with Black Combe beyond, still with a thick cloak of cloud.

Grey Friar across the Duddon Valley.

Dow Crag.

A panoramic view across the Duddon Valley.

Bow Fell.

Harter Fell.

The Sca Fells.

Stickle Pike.

Later on in the afternoon, we were up on top of Birkrigg Common, near Ulverston, for the most fantastic temperature inversion with the whole of Morecambe Bay and the low ground up to the Coniston fells under a thick blanket of cloud...no camera, of course!

I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year - thank you for supporting StridingEdge throughout 2005, here's to a great 2006 with many more walks to come - Sean McMahon (and Angus!).

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