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It was such a glorious morning that I dragged myself out of bed

and within an hour I was walking the shores of Buttermere. 

Early morning is always the best time to catch the light on the pines . . . good weather helps too !

The view from the car as I parked on the roadside towards the head of the lake.

Haystacks, Seat, High Crag, High Stile, Red Pike (behind the tree).

There's only three or four rough parking places so no guarantees of stopping.

This must be one of THE BEST VIEWS in the Lakes.

This morning the air is still and the reflections superb.

Winter has just touched the tops with a light sprinkle of snow overnight

to add clarity to the whiteness of the snow line.

Down on the beach looking across to High Crag . . .

. . . and down the lake towards distant Mellbreak.

A slight  breeze ruffles the water but the two dogs stay on the bank so as not to disturb the scene.

Across the way is Burtness Comb

with its famous climbing crags at the head and the larch woodland at the foot where the beck enters the lake.

The lakeside path continues on past the ash tree, standing proud on the gravel headland.

Turning  to see the view of The Pines from here.

Into the sun alters the colours which have added 'blue' from the bonfire at Gatesgarth Farm.

The line of cloud above Brandreth in the middle is more obvious in the reflection than in real life.

Every now and then an event occurs which just adds to the beauty.

The cliché would be to title this as "Swan Lake"

As a photographer I see it as an opportunity to "bracket the exposures" a little . . . }}

Sadly the lead bird didn't turn to offer a pair of brackets . . . { }

A solitary Canada Goose floating by.

One for St. Valentine's Day  { Feb 14th }

The shingle beach beyond the ash tree.

The wider view of Fleetwith Pike and Haystacks.

The sparkles of light at the end of the gravel are the three birds swimming slowly up the lake.

More lovely pines in Crag Woods below Hassness.

The crags below High Snockrigg and Robinson go by the name of Goat Crag and Muddock Crag.

Partially hidden in the woods is Hassness House.

The bridge crosses the outflow of Hassnesshow Beck.

The fence and jetty at the end of the beach.

To continue on will take you on a slightly raised footpath to the Buttermere tunnel.

Time to turn around . . . but not before capturing a photo of Mellbreak at the foot of the lake.

Reversing my short outward walk . . . looking across at High Crag which now becomes the centre of attention.

The extra half hour has brought the sun higher in the sky which starts to wash out the colours slightly.

Zooming in on the famous trees at the head of the lake once more.

" Reflective Mood "

I could stay all day but the SD card would become full and the battery empty.

Time to return home and enjoy the breakfast coffee I missed earlier.

One last view of the sunlight shimmering on the lake

. . . a car stopping moment even though I had just spent an enjoyable fifty minutes with the camera down by the lake.

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