With snow blanketing the high fells and the sun shining beautifully,
it was time to head up the valley to enjoy the spectacle.
With a slightly poorly dog and a companion with a potential
limp too, we stay low and headed off round the lake.
How far we get, depends on the weather and how the team are
doing as we reach Burtness Woods.

Hunter Davies's old house against a back drop
of a very white Whiteside.

From Lanthwaite Green the outlier of Whin Ben
appears slightly darker due to a lighter snow cover.
(Note to self: that looks a great
place for a walk tomorrow)

As the road drops down towards Cinderdale there's
a layby with a great view up Crummock Water towards Red Pike.
- - - o o o - - -

Lingcomb Edge shines a brilliant white, whilst
Red Pike loses that brilliance due to the shade of a passing
cloud.
We've parked at the Trust car park here in Buttermere.

Heading out on the walk, the contrast of the
green fields and bracken to the white of the upland snow is
amazing.

Our first sighting of new season lambs this
year is in the home field of Crag Farm.
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I would
think that this one has just been born today. |
Another youngster, but
he/she's a bit different ? |

Crag Farm's Nanny goat has had a young kid of
her own . . . another very recent arrival.

We head out past The Fish, now the Buttermere
Court Hotel, on the circular path round the lake.

Looking back at Whiteless Pike and Grasmoor
shining out above the village.

The snow distorts the appearance and emphasises
the size and outline of Knott Rigg / Ard Crags,
making it seemingly tower over Syke Farm and
it's out buildings.

Down by the lake . . . a first view of Fleetwith
Pike through a recently cut and stacked pile of Larch logs.

- - - o o o - - -
Loes crosses the bridge over Buttermere Dubbs.
The new bridge is blending in now
as the timber weathers and the colours become more
muted.
With the cold conditions
Sour Milk Gill is not as full of water as expected.
Recent rains have fallen as snow of course
and are still lying on the upper slopes
rather than cascading down into the valley.
- - - o o o - - -
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Looking across the foot of Buttermere lake.
The gate and shallow water acts as a ford point
for the river and presumably the stacked logs travelled that
route from Burtness Wood.

Fortunately the forest track has not been damaged
by the recent timber work.
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Dougal found
a small stick to carry . . . |
. . . but I think it
was just too big to take much further. |

Hassness House nestles beneath High Bank, as
seen across the nearly calm waters of Buttermere.

Looking back down the lake at snow-covered Mellbreak,
Rannerdale Knotts, Grasmoor, Whiteless and Wandope.
The fell to the right is High Snockrigg, which
leads up onto Robinson (out of picture).

The bright sunshine and blue skies seem to be
clouding over
the change of weather being brought about by
the clouds carried in on the cool north easterly breeze.

Burtness Wood passed, Loes strides out towards
the trees at Horse Close.
It seems the good path and level walking is
not causing too many problems for either woman or dog.

- - - o o o - - -
A brief sit on the slate bench by the trees . . .
then it's on towards the head of Buttermere.
As we approach the top of the lake
the bothy becomes nicely framed by the trees
and the camera catches it
and the reflections
in both the river and the lake.
- - - o o o - - -
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When the lake stops, turn left for Gatesgarth
and go cross Peggy's Bridge !

Fine weather still characterises the skies to
the north west
but the Highland cattle are more interested
in the many visitors that are passing close to their field.

The Haystacks horseshoe of fells, as seen from
the track close to Peggy's Bridge.
Click here
or on the photo above for a larger
annotated panorama.

The snow line on Haystacks, as elsewhere in
the valley, seems to stop around the 200m contour.

Gatesgarth Farmhouse and the little Mountain
Rescue hut tucked away in the back garden.

It's back to the road for half a mile as we
approach the Buttermere Pines and regain the head of the lake.

An old Ash has battled the odds and has a reasonable
growth of new branches to its credit.

It is rather one sided growth, but from here
the majestic pines catch the eye instead.

Looking across the water at our outward path
and to High Crag / High Stile on the skyline.
The corrie is called Burtness Comb and the small
woodland is the one named on the map as Horse Close that we
passed earlier.

Another landmark Ash on the promontory close
to Hassness House.
The cold, damp winter is not showing it
off to its seasonal best.
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More large
Scots Pines between the lake and the lakeside path. |
Two leafy tide-lines
show recent changes in water levels. |
This would be a difficult section of the path
to maintain dry feet if the water level was close to that higher
mark.
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The cut
path below the Dalegarth Woods. |
Where the cliff edges
the lake, a tunnel has been cut. |
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The structure has seen many feet passing through and a number
of large puddles have formed both at the entrance and deeper
in the tunnel.
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Still we are through dry shod
if a bit wet and muddy on the outside of our boots.
From here on the path crosses the meadow
and then climbs slightly into the next woodland.
- - - o o o - - -
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One of the
features of Pike Rigg path is a rock-cut gully for the
surface water. |
From here on the path
is wide and easy to walk. |

It leaves the lake and heads off towards the village.
The other option would have been to swing left and follow
the lake shore back to the wood stack and then rejoin our
outward track.

The path skirts the rock bluff and climbs a hidden set of
pitched steps by the trees.

That took us up to meet the track to Bowderbeck House, in
the trees off to the right.

But the village is in sight so we turned left at the gate
and headed for Wilkinsyke Farm.

A busy farm yard with a footpath through it . . . please
shut the gates !

The welcoming lights of home . . . well Syke Farm Cafe at
least.

The ice cream machine is turned off for the winter
but the menu this cool day offers great soup, Buttermere
Pies or other hot meals instead . . . it's decision time !

A short while later, after talking to walking friends who
also had the same culinary desires as us, we were off again.

The colourful Herdwicks of Syke Farm have been gathered in
for checking prior to lambing.
As an upland breed it is probably too soon for them to be
actually lambing yet, unlike the other breeds we saw earlier.
- - - o o o - - -
It just remains for the short walk
through the village and up the hill,
back to wards Crag Farm
and the National Trust car park just beyond.
The daffodils are out here
as are the first flowers on the Hawthorn or May
branches.
Despite the snow, there are signs of Spring on the
way.
Dylan seems to have coped with the walk well
but I'm sure he'll sleep well tonight.
I'm sure I saw him smiling when we reached the open
fell paths.
- - - o o o - - -
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Technical note: Pictures taken
with my iPhone 11pro mobile phone camera.
Resized in Photoshop, and built
up on a Dreamweaver web builder.
This site best viewed with
. . . a walk which exceeded expectations.
Go to Home Page .
. . © RmH . . . Email
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Previous
walk -
29th February 2024 - Smithy
Beck Trail
A
previous time up here -
25th March 2023 - An
Afternoon Buttermere
Next
walk -
3rd March 2024 - Whiteside
Snow