Tuesday 12th January 2010

Start point: Rakefoot Lane (NY 282 226)

Rakefoot Lane - Castlerigg Farm - Rakefoot - Walla Crag - Nest Brow - High Nest - Castlerigg Stone Circle - Rakefoot Lane

Distance: 4.7 miles    Total Ascent: 246 metres     Time Taken: 2 hours

Weather: Cold and windy. 3oC

Route Map

The temperature has warmed since last week and there has been some thaw over the last couple of days. We had a short walk from Rakefoot Lane up to Walla Crag - it was supposed to be an easier walk to give Dougal a taste of winter conditions but as it turned out, the weather up there was quite severe so it was a good job we were only going a short way! We returned via Castlerigg Stone Circle and en route we were recognised by a couple of StridingEdge fans from Leicester - it's always nice to stop for a chat with website viewers.

Casper waits for us at Castlerigg Farm.

Icy Brockle Beck.

Fun and frolics in the snow.

Casper and Dougal are amazed - it's the sun! This was certainly the calm before the storm and by the time we reached the top of the wall in this photo, the wind became really strong making walking quite difficult at times, especially in the knee depth drifts.

Looking back to Blencathra.

Wind blown snow at the kissing gate makes a wintry scene. It certainly stung the eyes, that snow.

The view in the opposite direction towards Blencathra.

Frosted Dougal and Casper.

The view over a cold looking Keswick.

I could hardly stand up here as the wind was so strong and the snow was deep on this section. I retraced my steps to the gate to get on the other side of the wall which seemed a much safer option than trying to walk the narrow path along the wall here as there is a steep drop off to the right.

Castlerigg Fell - Bleaberry Fell to the right.

The view from Walla Crag summit, Derwent Water below is frozen. Select on the image to see a larger version.

Snowy old Dougal. He loves nothing better than foraging in the deep snow, hence the covering on his nose.

The snow dogs at the top of Walla Crag.

Spindrift from the top of Walla Crag.

Looking across to the north western fells.

The view towards Borrowdale.

Mono Blencathra from the descent.

Blencathra from Castlerigg Stone Circle. Select on the image to see a larger version.

The view from the stones.

The north western fells under a heavy sky.

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