Back in October 2023, we were sat in the coffee shop in our local garden centre (very nice coffee and cake btw) surrounded by shelves and stacks of Christmas “tat”. All the stuff that is associated with the time of year was on sale, in early October! I believe in the phrase “Christmas does not start until 1 Dec” each year and our conversation that day turned to how do we avoid the worst of it? Short of digging ourselves a big hole or finding a cave to migrate to for the duration, we concluded the best way was to escape to one of our favourite places, The Lake District or to be more specific, Keswick. Usually, holiday lets are booked well in advance for the Christmas period, but we found a small apartment that was available, very close to our favourite one so we booked it for a very reasonable price. And so it was that on 21 Dec 23 we headed north for a Christmas escape, some walking, meeting up with friends and as it turned out meeting a few new folk. 

This blog will not be a day by day description of our Christmas but will feature some images of our week. Most of the images will feature low cloud and rain as they were a regular occurance during our break. Nevertheless we had lovely week and managed to escape the worst excesses of the season.

One thing we did try and do each day was to walk from Keswick, leaving the car in the car park. On that count, we succeeded. I used the car only once, for a photo trip to Buttermere and Crummock Water. So all the walks are local.

The views from the path up to Walla Crag are aways fantastic, even when the cloud is sat on the surrounding peaks and the wind is howling, blowing rain drops into your face! 

1 and 2: Views either way from the path up. 3: Blease Fell in the distance, there was much boggy ground between us and there. 4: The view over Derwentwater to the south from Walla Crag. We paused only briefly on top as a 45mph wind was blowing!

Top: Lyn on top of Walla Crag; Bottom: Lyn pauses on the walk down. 

There was an image of the two of us on the top but raindrops got into the lens and I look like my mouth has disappeared, so that was deleted!

I have posted images of Hawes End before but it is a lovely spot, especially when the weather is dry. I do love a good mono conversion that is why I have posted the colour original and the image converted to black and white.

This is the jetty just round the corner from the images above. I loved the variable lighting on the wooden jetty in the colour image which I have tried to replicate in the mono conversion.

Top: One of the lakeside residents keeps watch as we walk past. The Herdwick sheep is ideally suited to these parts, being a strong robust animal requiring the minimum of fuss. Bottom: Further round the west side of Derwentwater is Brandlehow Jetty. It might look the same as Hawes End but it has a slightly different outlook.

One of the first things I learned about Landscape photography is the use of lead-in lines. The top image has these rocks and I could not resist! I have named the bottom image “Solitude“. This lady was sat on her own on a rock completely oblivious to the people walking past a few metres behind her.

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Top: The south end of Derwentwater gives some excellent views of Borrowdale. The fell in the centre is Castle Crag, which, although is dominated by the hills around is recognised as a “Must Do” for fell walkers. Bottom: We love a selfie! This one shot by Lyn on the return leg of our walk.

I have noted elsewhere that the weather has been variable to say the least. Strong winds and heavy rain to the fore. Whilst Lyn took herself off for a walk up to Latrigg Fell I headed out to Buttermere and Crummock Water for some “proper photography”….that is tripod, Canon R6 + lenses and filters and a heavy camera bag.

Derwentwater Island with the “knuckles” of Causey Pike in the background. The breaking waves on the lake surface gives an indication of the wind speed.

The only shot of Crummock Water I took. The low level mist is actually rain! The mountains from left to right in the background are High Stile, Dodd, with Red Pike in the mist behind.

A set of images shot from the south western end of Buttermere at Gatesgarth, first looking Northwest. The bottom image is shot using a “10 stop” filter to slow the shutter speed down to a point where the water is smoothed out. It did not quite work as it was too windy.

Looking the other way with Fleetwith Pike on the left Honister Hause in the middle and Haystacks on the right.

We expected to meet loads of people on our Christmas Day walk wearing Christmassy hats and jumpers. The reality was more rain and strong winds and few people!

Christmas Day on Derwenteater with Cat Bells in the distance

Having walked through Great Wood we headed to Castlerigg Stone Circle, where we planned to have our Christmas picnic. This is me trudging up the hill, shot by Lyn.

Two views of Castlerigg Stone Circle with the threatening clouds about to rain on us again. One each by Lyn and I.

Two views from the Castlerigg site looking south down towards the Hellvelyn range.

Another day and another change in the weather. The BBC Weather App promised 0% chance of rain and sunny skies. Well, they got it partly right. The rain came about an hour into our Boxing Day walk but it did not last.

We walked on paths to the north of Keswick, affording some great views despite the clouds looking back south. 

Top: Looking towards Grizedale Pike with Causey Pike in the background and Coledale Valley. Centre: Further left this is Low Rigg and High Rigg with Hellvelyn in the distant mist; Bottom: In the foreground a section of Blease Fell looking south.

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Top: Our route took in a good path along the side of Lonscale Fell on the left with Blease Fell on the right. Centre: Looking further up the valley; Bottom: A couple of local sheep casting a curious eye over us as they continue their mission to eat the fell!

Two images of me walking slowly up the path on the side of Lonscale Fell with the Hellvelyn Ranges in the far distant mist.

This was the one sunny day on our visit and we made the most of a lovely day. Christmas in Keswick was something new for us, we had not visited in December. It was not a white Christmas which was slightly disappointing as it would have been lovely to see snow on the peaks instead of cloud. 

As we left on our drive home……in the rain, we glimpsed a snatched view of the Helvellyn Ranges with their peaks covered in snow. So we did see snow at Christmas!

Happy New Year.