With snow blanketing the high fells and the sun shining beautifully, it was time to head up the valley to enjoy the spectacle.

With a slightly poorly dog and a companion with a potential limp too, we stay low and headed off round the lake.

How far we get, depends on the weather and how the team are doing as we reach Burtness Woods.

Hunter Davies's old house against a back drop of a very white Whiteside. 

From Lanthwaite Green the outlier of Whin Ben appears slightly darker due to a lighter snow cover.

(Note to self:  that looks a great place for a walk tomorrow)

As the road drops down towards Cinderdale there's a layby with a great view up Crummock Water towards Red Pike.

- - - o o o - - -

Lingcomb Edge shines a brilliant white, whilst Red Pike loses that brilliance due to the shade of a passing cloud.

We've parked at the Trust car park here in Buttermere.

Heading out on the walk, the contrast of the green fields and bracken to the white of the upland snow is amazing.

Our first sighting of new season lambs this year is in the home field of Crag Farm.

Crag Farm's Nanny goat has had a young kid of her own . . . another very recent arrival.

We head out past The Fish, now the Buttermere Court Hotel, on the circular path round the lake.

Looking back at Whiteless Pike and Grasmoor shining out above the village.

The snow distorts the appearance and emphasises the size and outline of Knott Rigg / Ard Crags,

making it seemingly tower over Syke Farm and it's out buildings.

Down by the lake . . . a first view of Fleetwith Pike through a recently cut and stacked pile of Larch logs.

Looking across the foot of Buttermere lake.

The gate and shallow water acts as a ford point for the river and presumably the stacked logs travelled that route from Burtness Wood.

Fortunately the forest track has not been damaged by the recent timber work.

Hassness House nestles beneath High Bank, as seen across the nearly calm waters of Buttermere.

Looking back down the lake at snow-covered Mellbreak, Rannerdale Knotts, Grasmoor, Whiteless and Wandope.

The fell to the right is High Snockrigg, which leads up onto Robinson (out of picture).

The bright sunshine and blue skies seem to be clouding over

the change of weather being brought about by the clouds carried in on the cool north easterly breeze.

Burtness Wood passed, Loes strides out towards the trees at Horse Close.

It seems the good path and level walking is not causing too many problems for either woman or dog.

When the lake stops, turn left for Gatesgarth and go cross Peggy's Bridge !

Fine weather still characterises the skies to the north west

but the Highland cattle are more interested in the many visitors that are passing close to their field.

The Haystacks horseshoe of fells, as seen from the track close to Peggy's Bridge.

Click here or on the photo above for a larger annotated panorama.

The snow line on Haystacks, as elsewhere in the valley, seems to stop around the 200m contour.

Gatesgarth Farmhouse and the little Mountain Rescue hut tucked away in the back garden.

It's back to the road for half a mile as we approach the Buttermere Pines and regain the head of the lake.

An old Ash has battled the odds and has a reasonable growth of new branches to its credit.

It is rather one sided growth, but from here the majestic pines catch the eye instead.

Looking across the water at our outward path and to High Crag / High Stile on the skyline.

The corrie is called Burtness Comb and the small woodland is the one named on the map as Horse Close that we passed earlier.

Another landmark Ash on the promontory close to Hassness House.

The cold,  damp winter is not showing it off to its seasonal best.

This would be a difficult section of the path to maintain dry feet if the water level was close to that higher mark.