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In the morning I have a drive over to Keswick which is a delight in the fine weather.

After a late lunch the dogs were nagging us for their walk so we headed up the valley towards Buttermere.

Wrapped up against the change of weather, the second outing of the day was like chalk is to cheese . . . so very different.

More wintery showers have left the lower fells with another light covering of snow.

The quarry field looks a bit like a petulant teenager . . . growing a spiky stubble on its face . . . I suppose we'll get used to it !

I have to go over to Keswick this morning so head off in the car.

This is the view just before the hand takes the wheel and the feet hit the pedals.

The climb up Whinlatter with the view of snow topped Ladyside Pike.

This used to be a regular 3 days a week view when I worked in Keswick . . . all those (4+) years ago.

In that time they've clear felled next to the road down the other side

so we now get an early and full view of the Skiddaw fells.

From the pull in at the top bend . . . a glimpse of the Helvellyn Ridge starting with Clough Head and The Dodds.

The traditional panorama from the Knoble Knott layby extends from Binsey to Blencathra.

Today the high water levels have caused the river to increase the size of the lake, as it floods across part of the valley floor.

Click here or on the photo above for a double sized annotated panorama where you can see the water more clearly.

However the River Greta is not adding much to the lake level as it is really quite low.

This was the view through the glass anti-flood windows on the bridge at High Hill.

Sticking my head above the parapet . . . .

Interestingly the Keswick Ministry have stared the renovation of the old pencil factory into a new Keswick Convention Centre.

The current, modernised pencil factory has move to the Lilly Hall Estate, closer to Workington on the west coast

but the Pencil Museum (with the orange stripe) is still up and running here in its natural Keswick home.

Business over I go in search of views of the fells . . .

Causey Pike in the sunshine.

The wintery climb up Grisedale Pike via the ridge from Kinn. 

The Whinlatter approach has even more snow on the spur behind.

A quick stop at Bassenthwaite Lake Station to see how the renovations are going.

[ More details on my page . . . " The Train Now Standing "]

Returning home, I look up the Lorton Valley from Hundeth Hill . . . the weather is changing.

That was quick . . .

by the time I approach home you would wouldn't have thought the previous picture was the same day.

- - - o o o - - -

There again nothing lasts . . . wait a short while and the weather changed again.

After lunch and after waiting for another blustery shower to blow through,

we head up towards Buttermere for a walk at the head of Crummock Water.

Parking on the roadside beyond the hause, we look back across the road to a cold looking Mellbreak.

Wood House Island . . . through the trees.

We make our way down to the water's side and walk the fields below Wood House.

The dogs enjoy a run across the grass.

All very well but Dylan shouldn't really be running at present, in order to protect his recent minor surgery site.

Soon the view down the lake changes . . . time to do up the coats I feel.

A greyness fills the air as the we pass below Wood House B&B

Around the first small headland and we find ourselves looking down on their small boating jetty.

What the last picture didn't show was another approaching shower.

Hardly beach weather as the hail and then snow start to fall.

Holme Islands further out from the head of the lake.

Behind the outline of Lingcomb Edge has been lost in the cloud.

A few minutes later and the mini storm has blown through and normality returns.

. . . not without leaving Dylan with a light covering of snow.

Mellbreak also seems to be slightly whiter too.

A short uphill climb finds us at the top of Nether How.

. . . from where we get a view of Haystacks above the trees.

High Stile however is rather fading into the clouds.

To the right is Red Pike's outlier Dodd and we could just make out Red Pike itself hiding behind.

The steep sides of High Snockrigg look down on the village.

We circle round the back of the How and head back down to the beach.

Wood House appears once again as we take the damp path alongside the beck.

That looks familiar . . . another blustery shower heading our way !

Time to be heading back and as we cross the fields the shower passes us

and travels up the valley towards Green Crag and Haystacks.

Who needs beavers when the autumn leaves against the fence will form temporary pools in the streams.

Back over the small Wood House bridge.

Note the recent high tide line as shown by the build up of twigs and debris at bridge level.

Sadly the debris also includes plastic in the form of light green tree tubes

which have washed up from somewhere in the valley.

A final photo as we re-cross the grassy field

changed now to a wintery-green from the grass-green colour that it had earlier in the walk.

What's the expression . . . there's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.

We had anticipated the weather correctly and so arrive back home and dry (on the inside).