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" Autumn Mists and Sunshine "

Date & start time:      6th November 2020.   2 pm start for the walk, earlier for the first pictures.

Location of Start :     By the red phone box, Loweswater, Cumbria, Uk. ( NY 143 211 )

Places visited :          Garden and Paddock, the lake and back via Lanthwaite Woods.

Walk details :              2 mls, negligible ft of ascent, an hour or so for the walk.

Highest point :           The contrast in weather since our last walk report.

Walked with :              Myself and our dogs, Dylan and Dougal.

Weather :                      Autumnal mist and slight valley inversion, clearing to a lovely day.

© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Licence number PU 100034184.

 

It had been a rough couple of days with high winds and rain leading to wet conditions on the ground and cold conditions on the fells.

As a result we saw the first "snow" of the winter on  the high fells on Tuesday 3rd November this year.

This late morning photo shows the result of that winter shower on the High Stile Ridge.

- - - o o o - - -

However, three days later the conditions were quite different.  There had been mist in the valley all morning,

the cold air re-condensing the moisture that had been trying to evaporate away after the rains.

By lunchtime the sun, which had been fighting an in/out battle with the cloud, finally broke through

and a new season emerged, bringing autumnal colours back to the valley.

With the sun that far to the right of Mellbreak's summit it must be post-meridian . . . as the peak acts as a sundial for us.

The time is nearly 2 pm and the dogs and the camera need to go out for a walk.

A quick look around the garden as the mist clears . . . this is Low Fell seen from our roadside fence.

   
Valley cloud still hangs on the face of Grasmoor.
One of the best 'mackerel skies' we've seen for a while.
   

Mackerel skies imply an approaching westerly low pressure system and poor weather but that's for another day

. . . lets get out and enjoy this one.

   
Sunshine on the oak leaves brings out the colours.
Likewise the autumnal hazel in the uncut tops of the hedge.

The long lasting flowers of a Rudbeckia in the garden are looking a little worse for wear.

   
However they still provide a welcome dash of colour.
As does the final flowering of the Lupins.

I'm watched as I walk about enjoying the detail of the garden . . . whilst the others just sit and enjoy the sunshine and the views.

Ann enjoying the sudden warmth of the day.

   
In the paddock a robin sits in the bare branches of the Cornas Mas . . .
. . . and the Ash tree next to the stream has lost all its leaves.

- - - o o o - - -

Time to head out for a walk . . .

Low fell seen behind Gillerthwaite ('The Old Post Office') as the dogs and I head out across the fields.

   
Reflections in Puffin Tarn . . .
. . . and sheepish reflections in Puffin Tarn 2.

If you like the last photo then let me double the pleasure.

Doubled again . . . chimneys on Muncaster House and rock chimneys on Grasmoor.

A crow lands on the fields between us and the river

as the mixed colours of Lanthwaite Woods inspire me, in my as yet undecided route home from from the lake.

   
A field oak retains its russet leaves despite the recent winds.
Grasmoor is now clear of cloud as we approach the Pump House.

Tranquil Crummock Water.

The last of the distant mist hangs in the air in this view up the lake.

The lake levels are still reasonably high leaving the tree on its small island by the wall.

The gravel from Park Beck has drifted around the outflow to form two shingle banks that reach out into the lake.

On the far side a family stops to enjoy the beach next to the boathouse.

Sound from the air cause me to look upward as a flock of geese head south in formation,

perhaps mirroring the outline of the Darling Fell and Low Fell summits that they have just flown over.

The mixed woodland alongside the lake path as we cross the small bridge and head down to the weir.

Colourful reflections at the foot of the lake.

Russet oaks, yellow larch, green firs . . . white cloud across Whiteside.

The view from the bridge which marks the starting point of the River Cocker on its journey north to Cockermouth,

where it joins the River Derwent and then heads west, eventually reaching the sea at Workington.

The calm water allows a smooth, wave-free cascade of water over the weir.

However the sheer volume of water today churns up the river as it flows over the fish ladder.

Ancient trees carried down river by previous floods lay grounded mid channel.

The cast iron lip of the lower weir a few hundred yards downstream is hidden

by the large volume of water flowing over it.

There's a cheerful chirping in the air as a tiny bird darts across the branches of the trees above my head,

it refuses to sit still long enough for me to identify it properly.

The best of a series of blurred photos make me think it was a wren . . . but then it could be the shape of a fat young robin ?

 

Stunning views Roger. I think the bird might be a Goldcrest, although a bit hard to be sure . . . Angie Espin

I thought that too Angie, I always hear Goldcrest before I see them, that's what made me think it might be one.

Lovely photos Roger . . . Jill Rowland

Hi Roger, I wonder if your tiny bird is a Goldcrest – even smaller (though not by much) than the Wren!

Regards Elaine Blackman.

I think we'll go with the Regulus Regulus (Goldcrest) idea . . . Thanks everyone . . . RmH

( You can listen to the sound it makes on the RSPB link)

" Down at the Beech "

The dogs and I reach that part of the river where the beech trees tend to dominate the woodland.

   
A short woodland ascent from the river . . .
. . . brings us up onto the wide forest track.

A beech saplings catching the light.

I love the colours of these leaves in autumn and winter, so much so

that I've planted two of my bought-in hedge saplings as mini-feature trees in the centre of the paddock back home.

Brighter yellows on these two slightly more mature trees.

   
A delightful walk back along the track . . .
. . . brings me to the Scale Hill car park next to the road.

The ever changing clouds and the bright afternoon sun bring variety to the views as I walk back towards home.

- - - o o o - - -

As hoped, the sunny afternoon was concluded by the strong rays of the sun

clearing a western cloud bank and shining directly across the tops of the fells.

Here the rich colours of sunset bounce back off the granite chimneys of Grasmoor that we saw earlier.

Time for a few chores, some supper and perhaps a little shared time in front of the fire.

- - - o o o - - -

 

Enjoyed the walk ?

Now is  your chance to have your favourite web site pictures

hanging on your wall all year round

and to support a good cause.

- - - o o o - - -

" We've done it again.

We've brought you twelve months of Loweswater pictures,

Lakeland scenes and your favourite mountain dogs."

Yes . . . The 2021 Loweswatercam Calendar is now on sale

- - - o o o - - -

Click here  or on the photos

for full details of how to buy your copy.

 

 

Technical note: Pictures taken with my Panasonic Lumix Gx8 Camera.

Resized in Photoshop, and built up on a Dreamweaver web builder.

This site best viewed with . . . the printer's van bringing a box of re-prints of the calendars

such has been the demand from you all this year.   Thank you.

Go to Home Page . . . © RmH . . . Email me here

Previous walk - 29th October 2020 - A  little Light Water Music

A previous time up here - 27th October - Autumn in Lanthwaite Woods - 2018

Next walk - 9 - 11th November 2020 - Misty Morning and a Birthday