Start Point: Tarn Foot, Skelwith Bridge (NY 345 039)
Tarn Foot – Ivy Crag – Loughrigg Fell – The How – Loughrigg Tarn – Tarn Foot
Distance: 2.7 miles Total Ascent: 270 metres Time Taken: 2 hours Start Time: 07:45
Weather: Cold. 3°C
This morning turned into a right old palaver – firstly I set off for Helvellyn but the local weather said that east would be cloudy all day as I set off so I decided upon Coniston. When I made it to the start of the Walna Scar Road, I couldn’t stand up as there was that much sheet ice around and the wind was really strong and chilled to the bone as soon as I got out of the car. So with discretion being the better part of valour, I turned back and decided that Loughrigg looked a good bet for a decent sunrise. The walk was great and the weather was good up there, hardly any wind and a magical sunrise…but – on the way down I slipped and fell full on my camera with the side of my ribcage and that is something that does hurt! As I walked away from Loughrigg Tarn, I realised that my polarising filter was missing so I had to retrace my steps back to the northern end of the tarn where (thankfully) I found it lying in the snow. Flipping heck!