Start point: Strands Bridge (NY 249 135)
Strands Bridge – The Combe – Combe Door – Combe Head – Stonethwaite Fell – Rosthwaite Cam on Rosthwaite Fell – Bessyboot on Rosthwaite Fell – Big Stanger Gill – Stonethwaite – Strands Bridge
Distance: 7.1 miles Total Ascent: 762 metres Time Taken: 4 hours 30 minutes Start Time: 09:00
Weather: Cold wind, wintry. 4C
Today’s walk was up to Glaramara (or it was supposed to be – read on to find out why it didn’t quite turn out that way!) via Combe Gill. It is certainly a quiet way to climb but then again it is normally fairly quiet on the fells when conditions aren’t particularly good in winter.
Looking back to Borrowdale at the start of the walk.
Glaramara and Combe Gill ahead.
Looking back to distant Derwent Water and Skiddaw.
There was a cold, raw wind today and I was hoping for some shelter once in the combe.
In The Combe, Combe Gill ahead.
Combe Gill - the climb is to the right of the ravine and is easier than it looks.
Looking back from the climb...
...and from higher up.
At Combe Door the weather suddenly became very wintry, here looking to the Langdales through the rapidly moving clouds.
Combe Head.
The view from Combe Head.
Anyone who has been here knows that Glaramara is only a stone's throw away yet I didn't really fancy going for it today...
...and these were the main reason. It was so cold - I had full winter kit on, these two had jackets on but Glaramara can wait for a warmer day. It will still be there in summer!
Close up on the Gables.
Stonethwaite Fell (Dovenest Crag).
Looking back to Combe Head.
Rosthwaite Cam from Stonethwaite Fell.
A view across to Fleetwith Pike from Rosthwaite Cam.
Tarn at Leaves with Bessyboot, the summit of Rosthwaite Fell, the high point in the centre ground.
Bessyboot above frozen Tarn at Leaves.
Looking back on the route just walked from Bessyboot.
A face in the crowd - colourful Herdwicks in Borrowdale.
From a walk around Torver Back Common on 4th March...Coniston Old Man in full winter coat.
Long Moss.
Winter on Torver Common.
Coniston Water and snow laden skies.
