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Possible heavy snow showers were forecasted but only the tops of the fells were covered when we set off for a short visit to Whitehaven.

By the time Ann walked on Darling Fell later in the afternoon there was a little more snow underfoot.

The morning included snow showers but the afternoon sun brought an interesting light to the end of the day.

The forecast was for a blustery night (which it was) cold temperatures (definitely glove weather) and probable snow.

As it turned out it rained on us in the night but we did wake to see a winter covering on the tops.

All looked calm from the Millennium Plaque at the Village Hall.

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Ann and I needed to visit Whitehaven so while in town we had a few minutes to spare

to go down to the marina and then view the sea from high on the headland.

Bulwark Quay with the Beacon Museum on the far side and the old colliery chimney and tower on the headland above.

We'll drive over there afterwards.

One of two cannons mounted at the Marina entrance.

They were historically placed the other way round to deter invaders . . . but a certain John Paul Jones crept in unseen

and they were never able to be used to full effect.

Seems an unusual name for a seagoing craft . . . Green Pastures.

" Stop Press " Roger: I note with interest your asides on interesting yacht names during your visit to Whitehaven. I thought this one might amuse you.    Pat Malone. Mmmm . . . chose your names carefully though. . . avoid Titanic II . . . Thanks Pat, RmH.

I drove round and stopped above the Beacon Museum (on the left)

just along the road from the Duke Pit Fan House, a remnant of the many Whitehaven coal mines and historic buildings.

The incline joined the harbour to the old pits on top and from here you can look down on the outer harbour.

Despite the strong overnight winds there's hardly any sea running and very few waves of any consequence.

Sturdy old buildings on the end of a short pier in the outer harbour.

What might have been an old light on the end tower has seen better days.

It's use is redundant as now the outer harbour light will guide craft safely past the breakwater.

The tide must be in as there no sign of South Beach this side of the breakwater.

For those with an eye for snow, Scotland northern Solway coast seems to have had about the same amount as us at this point in time.

The Haig Pit . . . the restored pit head gear forms part of a Heritage Museum.

[ Sadly it is now closed I believe as it ran out of finances to allow it to stay open.]

This is the start of the "Colourful Coast" path from Whitehaven to St Bees. [Black for coal, Red for sandstone, Green for grass, Blue for the sea]

Today the coastal path is rather more monotone . . . reflecting the weather.

You can just see the St Bees Lighthouse on the top of the headland.

Back down at the old buildings on the headland . . . time to head home for today.

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" Stop Press " Hi Roger & Ann.    I’ve just enjoyed looking through your pictures of Whitehaven and thought I’d pass on a couple of bits of information you might like to hear about this one. The building in the foreground is called Jonathan Swift House (Gulliver’s Travels). He definitely lived in the house and, could have even been born there. Although I don’t think anyone is 100% sure about where he was actually born or for how long he lived there. Apparently after writing Gulliver’s Travels he said he got the idea for the book from looking down at the sailing ships in the harbour from the house. From your picture you can see why, although the sailing ships are long gone. The other thing is the big chimney which is called Candlestick Chimney. This was a ventilation chimney for Wellington Pit. I can remember sometime around school leaving age it was struck by lightning and it set fire to the gasses that were obviously still venting. Thanks for sharing, if it weren’t so windy I might have went for a walk around there this evening.        David H.

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In the afternoon Ann took the dogs for a favourite stroll up Mosser track and onto Darling Fell.

Poor light and only the phone (and the dogs) for company . . . but the pictures came out remarkably well.

[ There's no mobile signal out here so at least the photos made carrying the phone worth while.]

Looking down on Loweswater and the "pheasant".

The afternoon snowfall has covered the ground with white stuff . . . something the showers last night failed to do.

The sun was hidden behind the clouds

but the colour crept around the side of Burnbank and reflected nicely on the lake.

The colours were changing by the minute.

The sunset was imminent and the clouds were reflecting the glow above the Gables.

Constantly changing colours as I sat mesmerised on this still, cold end of the afternoon.

I am looking across at the Mosedale valley in this photo, with Great Borne and Starling Dodd beyond Black Crag and Gavel.

" What are you looking at Mum ?      Are we setting off soon ? "

My patient boys !

The viewpoint on the side of Darling Fell had been reached and it was time to turn around.

Harry starts on the path back down to the Mosser Road and home.

We were overtaken by a snow flurry on the way back but safely reached the car down at the lakeside.

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