Day 2 continuing a circuit of some of Lakeland's central fells & valleys

Wythburn (Thirlmere) to Ambleside, 14miles 2150ft

Setting off from Ambleside on the bus to Wythburn

I left the bus here at Wythburn on the north side of Dunmail Raise with Steel fell ahead

Passing through Steel End farm....

....to climb the north ridge of Steel fell with Thirlmere reservoir behind

Thirlmere again....

....and again

Looking across the valley I had a great view of Birkside Gill descending from Helvellyn....

....before arriving at Steel fell summit 1814ft sadly now in cloud with no views....

....until I started my descent towards Grasmere....

.....down the south ridge

Looking back to the South ridge....

....and across the valley to Greenhead Gill

Zooming in on the upper falls

With rain now falling I had my lunch (with permission) inside St Oswald's church Grasmere where.... 

....William Wordsworth is buried

The renowned Grasmere Gingerbread shop!

After lunch I continued south along the side of Grasmere.... 

....looking back to Dunmail Raise (R) Helm Crag (L) with Steel fell still in cloud behind

Leaving Grasmere to follow....

....the river Rothay....

.....to Rydal water....

....and then continuing by the river until Ambleside came into view across the fields....

....and where I crossed the river Rothay.....

....into Rothay park and back to my car.

Today I briefly experienced on Steel fell summit the contrast to last week's winter walking on Helvellyn. The cloud was down with a strong bitter wind with hailstone and sleet. Never-the-less this was still a very enjoyable walk given the variety of terrain and scenery

 The start of another circuit of some of the central Lakeland fells and valleys. Legburthwaite to Wythburn 

via Sticks Pass, Raise, Whiteside, Lower Man & Helvellyn

8.5 miles 3250ft

Starting the climb up Stanah Gill to Sticks Pass with Blencathra behind 

Stanah Gill

Looking back to the north end of Thirlmere.....

....and Skiddaw to the north west

 Raise summit 2897ft with Lower Man and Helvellyn now in sight....

The path to Whiteside (right) leading on to Lower Man

Zooming in on the path rising up Lower Man....

....and then on to Helvellyn

Looking down Swirral edge with Red Tarn at the start of the summit plateau....

....and cloud rising behind Striding edge 

Arriving at the Helvellyn summit Trig Point 3117ft.....

.....and the summit shelter

Who's this having their photo taken?

Striding edge again

Starting the descent to Wythburn.

....and again with Helm crag on the other side of Dunmail Raise

Thirlmere....

....from the steep descent from Birks down Comb gill

Passing through the Thirlmere plantation....

....to Wythburn church. The church is the only remaining building of the villages of Wythburn and Armboth which were both covered when two smaller lakes were flooded to construct the Thirlmere reservoir supplying water to Manchester

A final view of Thirlmere whilst waiting for my lift back to Legburthwaite.

This walk was a fabulous day out at the start of  some winter walking conditions in the magnificent Lakeland fells. There's no better place to start than Helvellyn!

Just remember to make sure you're well equipped as conditions can deteriorate in minutes!!!!

Two short walks for the price of 

one long one !

Walk One: Coniston village to Levers Water & return 6.5miles 1450ft

Setting off from Coniston to start the walk up Coppermines valley on a bitterly cold morning

Looking back east down the valley as the sun rose over Monk Coniston Moor

Reaching the YHA with the Coniston fells behind

Looking up at the waterfalls out of Levers Water to where I was heading....

....and arriving at Levers Water with Swirl How behind

I had planned my walk to climb to Great Carrs fell via Swirl How where I wanted to revisit the WW2 plane crash memorial site as this was November and Armistice Day just passed. However as I sat here by the tarn in a bitterly cold wind and both hands numb with cold despite gloves, I'd had enough and decided to return to Coniston.

I managed a couple of photos here with cold fingers....

.....and again.

On returning to the car I decided instead to drive to another WW2 crash site not far from home which only required a short walk to reach.

Walk Two

Yarrow reservoir to 

WW2 plane crash memorial, Lead Mine Clough, Rivington Lancashire, and return.

Setting off from Allance Bridge by Yarrow reservoir.....

....and walking up the clough.....

.....to the bench beside the crash site with Winter Hill in the distance

The memorial with wreathes recently laid

The pilot and 5 crew were all killed.....Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord....

A final view of the memorial before....

....finally descending again to the reservoir

After a faltering start I eventually achieved my goal of visiting one of the local wartime memorial sights.

The Lake District looked wonderful in the cold winter sunshine but sometimes common sense has to prevail!!!