Hiley Website

As I sit and write on a lovely Cumbrian evening, I'm able to look back at the start of a period of lovely weather.

I ventured up the valley again for "food for home" and "pleasures for the eyes",

this time taking Ann to see the spindly tree on the sandpiper beach on the western shore of Buttermere.

Mid-morning last Thursday from our Loweswater vantage point.

There's fresh snow on the high fells and sunshine in the valleys.



Signs of spring in the garden.	The last of the winter veg (kale) in the raised bed.

	- - - o o o - - - After lunch we ventured up towards Buttermere. Chance for a walk for Dylan and we've also arranged to buy more of those Buttermere consumables, milk and eggs, from Syke Farm! - - - o o o - - -

The lads at the tearooms are doing a little remedial landscaping, ready for the new season visitors.

Buttermere Church at the top of the hill.

We've parked locally and will walk a circular route down to the lake and back.

The Old School Room, now the Village Hall at Buttermere.

As it says on the tin . . . the Bridge Hotel . . . their hotel rooms have re-opened after a few weeks of winter-time decoration.

Finger posts without the need for a pole to hold them up . . . it would only get in the way anyway !



Our anti-clockwise circuit takes us down the road . . .	. . . and past the Fish Inn

As we enter the lane to the lake the views open out.

Left to right . . . the tops are, Black Star, Fleetwith Pike, Grey Knotts, Brandreth, Green Gable and Haystacks

with possibly the tiniest view of Scafell Pike summit, if you have a good imagination.

Looking back at The Fish and the sunshine

where Whiteless Pike and the snow covered top of Grasmoor stand out in real contrast to the shade of the valley.



One of the National Trust "50 things to do before you're 11 3/4s".	Something definitely not to do . . . climb Sourmilk Gill

Recent rains have gathered in a pool alongside the lane.

The fell behind is High Snockrigg, an outlier of Robinson which is out of sight behind.

The river at Buttermere Dubbs . . . a view up Buttermere from the bridge.

The sky is overcast but the visibility good and with that bright sun to the west it is a nice afternoon.



Fleetwith Pike at the head of the lake.	The rocky end to Sour Milk Gill cascades down the fellside.

We do a slight diversion and cross the bridge over the falls "just because we can".

The sheep are still down by the lakeside

and are confident enough to stay and look for food as I approach quietly.

The sunshine reaches out to the snow on the flanks of Robinson, high above the Hassness crags.

Through the gap of Newlands Pass are Sail and Scar Crags.

Trees often feature in photos of Buttermere . . . some are older and more decrepit than others.

A small flock of Mallard take to the water ahead of us.

[ The lakeside path we are using today is not open during the sandpiper breeding season by the way.]

We find the spindly tree again.

The view if you want to be left handed ;o)



High Crag Buttress, part of the High Stile Ridge.	Old roots exposed by the moving waters of the lake.

A view across to Haystacks as we have one last look back at the lake.

A bijou little home . . . but in need of quite a lot of refurbishment I feel.

It will also need fixing back, a lot higher up off the ground.

The sheep feeder I saw earlier in the month is still attracting the ducks as well as the sheep.



The Swaledales are searching hard for their winter grass.	Above them is lovely burst of colour

Looking around, the late afternoon is starting to turn the colours of many of the clouds.

Highlighted is one of the Chapel Crags on the High Stile Ridge above Bleaberry Tarn.

The rounded outline of Red Pike's Dodd outlier

which overlooks the valley and hides the true summit of Red Pike itself.

The view ahead towards the village of Buttermere once more . . . with Mellbreak as a backdrop.

Nearly back full circle as we approach Wilkinsyke Farm.

A new employee at the farm . . . he's been sitting there doing that job for quite some time.

Surround yourself with lots of items and you'll look busy !

Snowdrops in the shelter of the wall next to Syke Farm . . . the car is not far away now.

- - - o o o - - -

On the way home we round Hause Point as the afternoon colour intensifies.

Crummock Water reflects the yellow and brown hues of Grasmoor behind.

More roadside sheep, Herdwicks this time, as we look back at the true summit of Red Pike.

Sunset over Mellbreak and the Loweswater Fells from the roadside near Lanthwaite Green.

- - - o o o - - -