" A Medley of pre-Easter Walks "

Date : Several days during mid - April 2011

Location of Start : Various - Cumbria, Uk.

Places visited : The Whinfell Track towards Hatteringill, Ling Fell and Binsey

Walk details : Photos from the last few smaller walks in NW Cumbria

Highest point : Binsey Summit 1,466ft - 447m last Thursday.

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

Weather : Warm and sunny, turning hazy as the week progressed.

A collection of shorter walks as Ann and I take the dogs out in the fine weather on the run up to Easter.

No big walks due to work in Keswick or house and garden activities here at home (already mentioned yesterday)

Still we're having some great weather on the run up to Easter.

I ( Ann) always enjoy a walk where the dogs are "on the hoof '' from the start and the Whin Fell track is one such local walk.

We are above the village of Lorton, the summit ridge of Grasmoor can be seen through the trees.

Daffodils blooming in the hedgerow.

Further along the track there's a fine view of Ladyside Pike, Hopegill Head, Whiteside and Grasmoor.

The High Stile ridge is in the far distance to the right.

Cows and horses share the same fodder.

Looking across the Solway Plain.

I turn left onto the track towards Hatteringill Head (and eventually Fellbarrow beyond).

A fine panorama of fells as seen from the highest part of the Hatteringill track.

Binsey is the small fell on the far left with Lorton village nestling below, in front of the Whinlatter fells.

On the far right, the Grasmoor group and the Buttermere Fells, with the Gables and the Scafell group under the fluffy clouds.

A closer view of Lorton below with Skiddaw peeking over the Whinlatter fells

Zooming in on that fabulous view up the Buttermere valley.

My patient companions, Harry and Bethan, waiting for me to finish taking photos.

Back now past the horses, with the coast of Scotland in the distance.

Blackthorn against a perfect blue sky.

Time to return home . . .

- - - o o o - - -

This is for Ian as one afternoon he circled over the cottage in a plane piloted by his son Mark.

There was a lot of waving going on, from myself and from Ian !

- - - o o o - - -

Another favourite local walk here, this being the summit of Ling fell,

looking once again towards the north western fells with Hopegill Head in the centre and Grisedale Pike to the left.

What are they doing now ?

Oh no, this looks as if it going to be very wet and smelly !

Keeping my distance (as they don't smell at all sweet) we make our way down the eastern side of Ling fell.

Ahead are Ullock Pike, Dodd, Skiddaw Little Man (the pointed summit) and Skiddaw itself.

X marks the spot of some animal straw or hay, presumably extra feed put out while the sheep are lambing and the cows, calving.

Two happy dogs ready for a shampoo and the garden hose on our return !

Only one happy dog really . . . Harry (on the right) is obviously anticipating the event to come with disdain

as he would prefer to remain unwashed after all his hard work getting smelly !

- - - o o o - - -

As the week progressed the air started to get hazy.

A shorter walk up Binsey suited the amount of time available that day.

The old hawthorn trees are clothed in fresh green leaves but well up out of reach of the wooly maggots (sheep).

A close up on the soft, new growth.

Looking across at Longlands, the Knott, Meal Fell and Great Cockup that we walked last month.

Skiddaw appearing out of the gloom as we climb the fell.

Our neighbour's dog Dillon is out with us today.	Trig point number and Gps sign info above.

That means we've reached the summit and it's time for a treat . . .

. . . for the dogs that is !

Mmmm . . . we can hardly see Bassenthwaite Lake let alone the central fells today.

However, the blandness of the hazy views was contrasted beautifully

by the sharpness and clarity of the sounds of the skylarks flying high above us

Click the start button above

to play the sound and watch the panorama from the summit rotate before your very own eyes.

Once you reach the top, the only way is down.

Is that view back at the car any clearer than when we started ?

Hold your cursor over the photo to decide for yourself.

Back in the garden Saturday early evening.

The day had been cloudy and misty but at 5pm the weather cleared completely and all the haze of the previous week vanished away.

Zooming in on Green and Great Gable with Haystacks in front.

If this holds, Easter Sunday (tomorrow) will be a great day to be out and about.

- - - o o o - - -

Technical note: Pictures taken with either Ann's Canon 75 or my Canon G10 digital camera.

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

This site best viewed with . . . the prospect of more fine weather for Easter Week

Go to Top . . . © RmH.2011 . . . Email me here

Previous report - 20th April 2011 The Greenhouse Saga

A previous time up here - 1st September 2004 Binsey and the Sun Inn, Bassenthwaite

Next walk - 24th April 2011 Easter Rannerdale Bluebells