Start point: Three Shire Stone (NY 277 027)
Three Shire Stone – Red Tarn – Pike O’ Blisco – Black Crag – Three Shire Stone
Distance: 2.5 miles Total Ascent: 320 metres Time Taken: 4 hours
Weather: Sunny and clear. 4°C.
As we sat at home in the dense fog at home, I knew it had to better than that higher up – come on Connie, get your glad rags on, we are in search of sunshine and blue skies! It didn’t take long to find it, the fells were brilliantly clear today with a temperature inversion to the south and the golden glow of a great sunset on our descent. A good choice to get out today I think!
Cold Pike shortly after setting off from Three Shire Stone.
We started off in coat, gloves and hat but once up in the sunshine it was really quite warm. Here we're heading for Red Tarn with Pike o' Blisco up ahead. I wonder who ended up carrying all the gear?
Great Knott, Crinkle Crags and Bow Fell across Red Tarn.
..and a close-up.
We found this an idyllic lunch spot.
Looking back to the Coniston fells from Red Tarn.
Bow Fell.
Angus basks in the golden sunshine.
Connie at Red Tarn.
Not forgetting Casper of course.
Walking along Red Tarn bank.
Looking down on Red Tarn with the Coniston fells beyond from the climb to Pike o' Blisco.
The climb to Pike o' Blisco.
The Skiddaw massif - a good 15 miles away as the crow flies - and Pike o' Stickle.
The Howgills across Windermere.
To the south, there was a temperature inversion in the setting sun. The central hump is Black Combe with the pointed Stickle Pike centre left.
Skiddaw.
Golden glow on the Fairfield group of fells.
Close-up on The Howgills across Windermere.
A sea of cloud over the Duddon Estuary.
Looking south-east from Pike o' Blisco. Whernside and Ingleborough are visible 30 miles away in the centre distance.
Bow Fell from Pike o' Blisco summit.
The rapidly setting sun cast a golden hue on the fells on the descent.
Looking back to Pike o' Blisco.
A silhouetted Crinkle Crags.
All clear over Coniston - it was cold once we were out of the sun.
Coniston sunset.
Come on Connie, let's get down before it gets dark! Casper and Angus are already ahead on the path.
The sun sets behind Harter Fell with a thick band of cloud over Hard Knott.