Date & Time: Monday 4th February 2008. 3.50 pm start.

Location of Start : Roadside on Whinlatter Pass, Cumbria, Uk. ( NY 204 245 )

Places visited : Whinlatter Pass, Comb plantation, Whinlatter Top and back.

Walk details : 2.25 mls, 675 ft of ascent, 1 hrs 30 mins.

Walked with : Ann and the dogs, Harry and Bethan.

Weather : A big clap of thunder and a brisk hail storm proceeded us as we drove up Whinlatter, but it went as quick as it came, leaving us with a dry but windy walk.

Parking near Whinlatter Centre - the top pay and display car park was closed today

The fine weather continues to evade the Lake District but we get out for a slightly protected walk in Whinlatter forest in the late afternoon today.

We climbed to Whinlatter's summit in the strong breeze, and then retreated back to the relative calm of the woodland tracks.

The small larch at the start of the walk have grown significantly in the time we have been living here.

It wasn't that long ago that they were planted. (picture from 2003)

The forest track hasn't changed though - it's a steady walk up from the start.

At the first forest junction they've cleared the trees to allow visitors a fine view of Grisedale Pike.

Unfortunately the old sign board has gone. It used to name all the various fells and forest plantations that could be seen.

We take a more gently rising roadway across the side of the fell. It steep enough here to see over the high trees just below the track.

A close up of Grisedale Pike, with it's slight winter covering left over from last week's snowy weather.

Across Hospital Plantation, a distant view of Helvellyn.

Zooming in on the white Browncove Crags and the top of Helvellyn's 3000 ft summit.

It looks rather cold, damp and uninviting up there today.

The end of the forest track leads out onto the open fell side.

The dogs make a break for open country . . . they remembered a gap under the fence lower down.

Ann makes the tall step onto the stile	Balance is all important with this angle of slope.

Out onto open country ourselves, the afternoon sun breaks through a gap in the clouds.

All sign of the large black cloud that gave the hailstorm has gone and the heather takes on a warm glow.

Distant Skiddaw over the top of Whinlatter Forest

Further left, Lord's Seat and Broom Fell over the tree covered Aiken top.

Colourful skies over Skiddaw a short time later.

The afternoon sunlight has gone to leave us blue / grey conditions again as Ann reaches Whinlatter Top.

Behind is the panorama of the Helvellyn Range, from Clough Head on the left to distant Dollywagon Pike and even Seat Sandal on the far right.

Back now, alongside the windy edge of Whinlatter Valley

This is the Ladyside ridge leading up onto Hopegill Head, with a slight snow cornice on Hobcarton Crags.

Causey Pike just shows above the ridge of Grisedale Pike.

The dogs have plenty of energy today and spend the whole of the walk back to the forest fence chasing and play fighting with each other.

I think they are really enjoying being out on the open fells for a change.

A blur of fur.

Harry isn't always top dog.

Excuse me - I was trying to take a picture of the first lights of Keswick.

" If you go down in the woods today, you'll be sure of a big surprise . . . "

There's a lot of earth movers, mud and activity in the woods above the visitor's Centre.

It looks like we are getting a new " Go Ape Course " and a Mountain Bike Centre for the forest.

Should be good !

- - - o o o - - -

Technical note: Pictures taken with my Canon G7 or Ann's Ixus Digital cameras.

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

This site still best viewed with . . . that warm log fire in the evening !

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Previous walk - 1st February 2008 A cold Binsey after some snow

A previous time up here - 30th April 2003 Whinlatter with Ann and Amy