Start point: Brackenclose (NY 182 074)
Brackenclose – Brown Tongue – Scafell Pike – Ill Crag – Broad Crag – Great End (and return) – Mickledore – Hollow Stones – Brackenclose
Distance: 7.5 miles    Total Ascent: 1247 metres    Time Taken: 6 hours    Start Time: 06:45
Weather: Sunny above the clouds. 3oC
With the ridge of high pressure sitting over the Lake District and the persistent fog at lower levels there was a very good chance there would be a temperature inversion today which fortunately proved to be correct. I set off early from Brackenclose to try and catch the sunrise from the roof of England and I am glad I did, it was a fantastic morning to have the highest peaks in the land all to myself with some stunning views.
Just made it in time - sunrise from the summit of Scafell Pike.
What a beautiful morning with a big temperature inversion sitting over most of the Lake District.
This was interesting to watch, the cloud is pouring over Sty Head into the valley between Great Gable and Great End. In the distance are Skiddaw and Blencathra.
Summit view.
A panoramic of the cloud inversion. Select on the image to see a larger version.
Red sky at the trig. column and an inversion over Buttermere in the distance.
Scafell Pike summit positively glowing, from the southern cairn.
Mickledore and Broad Stand.
Scafell panorama.
Looking along Upper Eskdale to Caw, Harter Fell and Green Crag.
Black Combe and Whitfell above the sea of cloud.
Glowing sun.
The Grasmoor and Dale Head groups of fells beyond the Gables.
Far reaching tentacles.
The descent from Scafell Pike to Broad Crag, Ill Crag to the right and Great End.
Scafell Pike from Ill Crag.
Scafell Pike and Ill Crag (and Casper!) from Broad Crag.
Sunny on Great End.
The view to Skiddaw and Blencathra over Sprinkling Tarn.
Skiddaw with High Spy central with Seathwaite Fell summit at the very bottom of this photo.
A panoramic from Great End. Select on the image to see a larger version.
Looking across Rossett Gill to Great Langdale.
Dougal and Casper are loving it.
Looking back along the Scafells from Great End.
Ocean of dreams - Caw and Harter Fell.
A fabulous view on a fabulous day.
Lowly Stickle Pike has put in appearance beyond Harter Fell.
Crossing the Broad Crag col, the cloud was pouring into Upper Eskdale.
Another chance to sit and watch with wonder, the cloud pouring across Pen then floating up towards me.
Back on Scafell Pike with sunshine and loveliness all around.
Descending to Mickledore.
This icy descent is not for the faint hearted.
Pulpit Rock.
Descending to Wasdale.
Yewbarrow.
Wast Water. On the way home, I had to see what the view was like from Stickle Pike looking the other way...
...unfortunately conditions had changed a little but there was still a nice inversion over the Duddon Valley with the Scafell in view top left.
Caw.