Start point: Kiln Bank Cross (SD 215 933)
Kiln Bank Cross – Park Head Road – Long Mire – Pikes (OF) – Caw (OF) – Park Head Road – Kiln Bank Cross
Distance: 4 miles Total Ascent: 300 metres Time Taken: 1 hour 30 minutes
Weather: Bright and sunny with mist on the tops. 7ºC.
It was much brighter than of late today with clear blue skies and sunshine for a walk up to Caw from Kiln Bank Cross. On the ascent of Caw, the clouds suddenly came over and I was fortunate to witness two interesting phenomenon – a Brocken Spectre and (almost) a temperature inversion.
![24.12.05-035.jpg 24.12.05-035.jpg](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2005-12-24-caw/cache/24.12.05-035.jpg-nggid0518119-ngg0dyn-0x0x85-00f0w010c010r110f110r010t010.jpg)
..and a close up. This phenomenon was constantly repeated as the sun shone through the mist as I walked from Pikes up to Caw.
![24.12.05-061.jpg 24.12.05-061.jpg](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2005-12-24-caw/cache/24.12.05-061.jpg-nggid0518122-ngg0dyn-0x0x85-00f0w010c010r110f110r010t010.jpg)
Another Brocken Spectre and the Sca Fells which now looked close enough to touch across the sea of cloud.
![24.12.05-126.jpg 24.12.05-126.jpg](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2005-12-24-caw/cache/24.12.05-126.jpg-nggid0518113-ngg0dyn-0x0x85-00f0w010c010r110f110r010t010.jpg)
Stickle Pike. Later on in the afternoon, we were up on top of Birkrigg Common, near Ulverston, for the most fantastic temperature inversion with the whole of Morecambe Bay and the low ground up to the Coniston fells under a thick blanket of cloud...no camera, of course! I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year - thank you for supporting StridingEdge throughout 2005, here's to a great 2006 with many more walks to come - Sean McMahon (and Angus!).