Hiley Website

Three photos from a cool afternoon in Ennerdale.

There was blue skies at the head of the valley but cloud overhead, is casting a shadow on Loes and I

as we enjoy a short walk from Bleach Green car park to the lake and back using a circular track through the woods.

Not surprisingly the lake is full to the top of the weir,

but a large bank of gravel has been cast into the river bed by Ben Gill.

The side river was re-engineered to do that a few years back, but perhaps its been a bit over-enthusiastic with the amount of gravel !

Great Borne and Herdus with just a little snow remaining on it,

as it has been exposed to the direct glare of the southerly sun.

The high fells of Pillar and Steeple and for that matter Brandreth at the top of the valley, have stayed below zero by virtue of their height.

The snow still covers their sides, giving a cold prospect to anyone contemplating a walk in the high fells.

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On the Wednesday I needed to chat to a distant neighbour at the other end of Loweswater.

Rather than phone, it would make a nice local walk for myself and the dogs, so I set off up the hill towards the Village Hall.

The thaw set in last evening so the fields are clear, but there's still snow on the higher fells and ice on the roads in places.

Loweswater Village Hall - near the top of the rise.

The Village Hall with the best " View" in the country.

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In 2000 a Millennium Plaque was placed on the wall

which represented the valley in a 3D bronze.

Last year a slate chair was added alongside

to commemorate the recent Queen's 70th Jubilee.

The Hall itself has also recently moved into the modern world

by developing its own website and Facebook Page.

If you fancy a wedding reception, a business meeting,

a social meeting or an afternoon tea party,

the hall can be hired by the hour or by the day.

Check out the new website and "What's On" at

https://loweswatervillagehall.co.uk

Why not follow it on Facebook !

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The top of the rise and the turning to Maggie's Bridge.

On the side of Carling Knott the "Pheasant shaped Holme Woods is about to get a haircut

The felling has become necessary due to the larch tree disease Phytophthora Ramorum

The heavy equipment has moved in, ready to cut and remove the infected trees.

Sadly it is not the best time of year, but a check of badger sets and squirrel drays has been done

to try and mitigate the effect of the felling in their woodland environment.

You know how I love pictures of heavy equipment.

This is the main felling machine that can travel anywhere . . . but it still makes a mess !

The trees are heavy but this can grab and hold them during cutting and felling, stripping the side branches and stacking them, all in one operation.

You could say heavy plant to remove the heavy plants !



The cutting head with grab, saw and trimmer.	Site notice showing which paths are affected.

Let's hope their replanting plans will respect the heritage of the woods

and maintain the colour differential that defined the pheasant shape.

On with the lakeside walk . . . round next to The Bothy as the main track is out-of-bounds during the week.

This is the view from the beach, looking across to snow covered Grasmoor and Mellbreak.

The meadow beyond Holme Wood.

Bright sunshine on Darling Fell contrasts with the snowy shadows on this side.

The impressive array of fells that flank Crummock Water, in the background of the picture once Loweswater ends.

They are Grasmoor, Whiteless Pike and Robinson, with lowly Rannerdale Knotts just making an appearance.

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Job done for today, I've arranged some sawing, chopping and collection of logs for my cottage in a week or two's time,

in exchange for time and effort and an similar number of logs for the owner of the fallen tree, in order to to warm his house as well.

On around Loweswater Lake.

The slopes of Burnbank Fell cast a shadow over my walk now as the sun is low in the sky in January.

However Red Pike, High Stile and presumably distant Pillar fell, are all in bright sunshine.

Larch removal has already been happening on this side of the lake too, so a drive along the valley road has a very different look now.

The wall and notice are part of the "Old Parish boundary Animal Pound "

The restored Crabtreebeck Cottage, after being damaged in a flash flood a few years back now.

It's looking really nice.

Mellbreak seen from the road as I cross Crabtree Beck.

Thrushbank and Grasmoor.

Purchasers of my previous calendar may remember this Grasmoor view, but with a "Cinnamon Sunset" on the fell.

Cloud shades the top of Whiteside as the dogs and I approach the Village Hall once again.

One last photo as the view over Rose Cottage shows the clouds have moved.

There's now bright sun on the summits of both Whiteside and the lower Scale Hill in front of it.

Must remember the ice on the edge of the road on the way down !

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