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Another walk in this lovely winter weather, such a change from the rain and winds of Autumn.

Loes and I planned to climb Sale Fell but because of the cloud we drove into on the way towards our destination,

we turned back and headed up the old Mosser Track instead, taking advantage of the midday sunshine closer to home.

The roads are slippery and so Loes and I decide to park on the valley road close to the Low Lorton Bridge.

The actual parking space was around the corner . . . that's a courtesy car by the way . . . don't ask about my lovely Subaru !

While we were stopped, I walked back a few yards to picture the bridge in its winter mantle.

You can see the wide span steel arch under the roadway, a product of the rebuild following the 2009 floods.

Looking up the tranquil River Cocker, to Mellbreak and the cloud covered Buttermere Fells.

The houses on the east bank, the Lorton Village side of the river.

The Old Mill on the opposite bank.



The walk started along the frosty Mosser Road . . .	. . . the vegetation here hasn't seen much warming sunshine today.

We make a start on the climb, up the steep valley side towards High Bank Farm.

The views across to Whinlatter improved as we progressed.

Above the houses now and near the edge of the woodland,

so the trees are wider apart and the sunshine is more able to penetrate and clear the frost on what is now an un-made road.

We pass a "header reservoir" for the Village of Lorton water supply.

On the other side of the road a clear farm gate gives us views back down into the Lorton Valley.

Looking up to Hatteringill Head and the slopes of Fellbarrow beyond.

The first part of road climb done and the track levelled out and gave us views north towards the Solway . . . somewhere out there.

A wider panorama once the full extent of the cloud was on show.

It was this cloud we drove into earlier, on the way to Embleton.

The cloud bank lying over Cockermouth.

Soon after this we enter the shade behind this side of the hill, take a left turn and head up on the Hatteringill Track.

It hasn't seen strong sunshine up here for some time . . . by the look of the ice !



See what I mean about the conditions !	By walking the centre ground we could avoid the worst of ice.

Looking across to Lorton's Kirk Fell, Hopegill Head and Whiteside.

Had we driven to Sale Fell now it would have been clear, but the weather is great here so no matter.

What better winter views do you need . . . all the way up the valley to Great Gable in the distance.

That's Hatteringill Head . . . with the northern slopes of Fellbarrow beyond.

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We could have gone further along the track

but it dips significantly

before reaching the next landmark,

that of the old farm.

We decide to make this the mid-point of the walk

and so turn for the return leg,

re-tracing our steps back down towards Lorton.

Discretion encouraged us to pause before we set off

and we strapped our micro-spikes on our boots

to ensure a better grip on the way back down.

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We were soon back on the Mosser Track . . . but it looked different now.

The gentlest of breezes was bringing the cloud up the slope and over our heads.

It looks a lot colder when you remove the sunshine.

By the time we reached the farm gate by the reservoir, the cloud had blown over us and was starting to dissipate

allowing us views of the Lorton Valley once again.



Lower down and back into the cold air of the valley . . .	. . . it had kept the frost on the walls and on the stalk of the cow parsley.

A fine and clear view of Lorton as we end the walk and head home for a late lunch.

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