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The day after the year end fireworks and the weather is fine for a stroll out along Low Fell. 

A cool north easterly is bringing clouds over but as we start in lovely sunshine

there's fresh snow on Great Gable by the end of the day . . . fortunately we stay warm and dry throughout.

Celebrations and fireworks at the Kirkstile Inn at midnight on New Year's Eve . . .

but it was raining and I didn't have the camera ready . . . so here's one off the television a few minutes later.

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Today a late breakfast /brunch meant that we could skip a meal and get out for a walk in the sunshine.

Harry did so well on our Great Cockup walk that we chose our local Low Fell as it has lots of grass slopes too.

Helped by a tennis ball (which he carried virtually all the way). he enjoyed the walk and was even second one home.

We start the walk at the lane end in Thackthwaite.

The track follows the stream up between the fields.

The year round humid air has encouraged thick moss on the stones, the roots and the trunk of this tree.

Clear of the woodland we cross a couple of fields on the way up to the fell wall.

This is the first of a stand of oak trees that follows the field boundary.   Watching Crag is in the background.

The rest of the trees lead us up the field.

Looking across to the high fells . . .

Whiteside, Grasmoor and on the other side, Mellbreak, High Stile and all the way up to Great Gable.

Overnight rain sits on the summit of Grasmoor as a thin cover of snow.

A stand of larch catches the sun as we reach the fell gate.

With the bigger lens, the village of Lorton seems no distance away.

The fell behind shares the famous name of 'Kirk fell'.

From this height the summit of Skiddaw can be seen . . . but today it is shrouded by cloud and consequently indistinct.

Hopegill Head with a light covering of snow . . . which was spread all the way along the ridge.

Zooming in on Grasmoor.

From here six summits line up . . .

Scale Hill, Rannerdale, Haystacks, Kirk Fell, Great Gable and the Scafells behind.

Along the ridge of Low Fell and our eyes are drawn

to the stretch of Crummock Water filling the lower section of the Buttermere Valley.

In the time it took to look around the cloud started to clear

and the full height of Skiddaw could then be appreciated.

It is becoming overcast on the intermediate high ground but there's strong sunshine on distant Skiddaw Little Man.

The grey colour is more of the overnight cold stuff.

After a few undulations the summit is achieved.

Ann's pleased . . . Dylan's confused . . . and Harry is more concerned about a tennis ball he has been playing with for a while.

Low Fell summit cairn looking north to the very clear Criffel.

The cool breeze is bringing really clear air down from Scotland . . . by the feel of the temperature it probably started in the Arctic. 

Myself on the cairn . . . for a change.

The occasions that Harry wasn't carrying the ball it could usually be found in Dylan's mouth.

. . . but normal service is resumed by the time Ann reaches the southern viewpoint.

One taken on the phone to send to the kids !

Going downhill . . . the weather and ourselves.

Lower down the fell we meet one of the ponies who are grazing out here all year.

Great Gable seems to be experiencing a light shower of rain.

By the time it passed over there was a light covering of snow on the top.

The signpost marks the start of the footpath to home.

The western sky is clearing slightly and the clouds to the east are reflecting the high altitude sunshine.

High cloud to the west was also getting the same treatment.

A last look back at Low Fell . . . which has provided us with a nice walk once again.

We will end it at the teapot at the bottom of the field.

The light is failing fast and yet the high cloud is getting brighter by the minute.

Rose Cottage at the end of the walk.

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