Date & Time: A lunchtime walk from work, Monday 13th March 2006

Location of Start : Borrowdale Road, Keswick. ( NY 266 232 )

Places visited : Castle Head Woods, Friars Crag and the Boat Landings, and back.

Walk details : 2mls, 290ft of ascent , 45 mins.

Walked with : Myself and the camera.

Weather : Not brilliant, in fact cold, damp and trying to snow.

(Archive photo)

 

There had been a fall of late winter snow yesterday when the cold easterly wind had met the moist westerly airflow. Due to the proximity of the hills, the sea, and the distance inland, the amount of snow was very variable across different parts of the Lakes. Getting to work on the first day was "interesting" but now on the second day, the temperature had risen and the snow here was fast disappearing.

Melbreak from home on this, a working day.

A closer view of Hen Comb.

The gentler slope had retained a greater fall of snow.

Lunchtime I decided that I should at least get out, and had a brisk walk from Keswick down to the Lake via the viewpoint of Castle Head.

This was the view from the start of the Borrowdale Valley road. A lot of the snow had gone and conditions under foot were decidedly wet. Check out the current view on the Highfield Hotel webcam.

   
The viewing post on Castle Head
Keswick Town through the trees.

This was the rather damp view that greeted me as I made it to the top of the short summit of Castle Head.

Walla Crag and Great Wood from Castle Head. No sign of Bleaberry Fell today.

Click here or on the photo above for a fuller Derwent Water panorama

Sliding down through the mud of Castle Head Woods, I crossed the road and the rather green field seen earlier and made it down to the lakeside.

Friars Crag, the classic viewpoint on Derwent Water

with Causey Pike and Rowling End behind.

   
An ice and snow edge to the small lagoon.
Today the fence heads out into rough water.

Friars Crag and Cat Bells.

There was a strong breeze and sleet in the air - yes it was as cold as it looked.

   
Derwent Isle, Walla and Falcon Crags.
St Herbert's Isle and Castle Crag further up the lake.

Cannon Rawnsley's plaque on the path back to the Boat Landings.

The ice has gone from the lake, but no-one wanted a boat trip today. Lean times for the ducks with less people to feed them. Don't panic though, this site sponsored them to the tune of two bags of duck food from the Lake Tearooms opposite.

"Yesterday you wouldn't have spotted me amongst the snow"

"It's ok . . . I can park here between October and April without getting a ticket "

   
Where have all yesterdays toboggans gone ?
Back at Crummock today (14th March)

 

Two final pictures of today's weather on a local walk down to Crummock Lake.

To think the south Lakes are still digging themselves out of their snow drifts.

Nature's a funny thing, pass the wellies !

 

- - - o o o - - -

Technical note: Pictures taken with a Canon IXUS 400 Digital camera.

Resized in Photoshop, and built up on a Dreamweaver web builder.

This site best viewed with . . . Mask, snorkel and flippers.

Go to Top  # © RmH  #  Email me here  # Go to 2006 Archive

Previous walk - 4th March 2006 Eagle Crag, and High Raise in the snow

Previous time up here - 30th August 2005 Keswick and Derwent Water