It’s Christmas!!

Once again, in an attempt to excuse ourselves from the frippery and noise of Christmas we have de-camped to Keswick in Cumbria for Christmas. It suits us because we can be selective in what we choose to participate in and the walking is so m much better here than in Norfolk.

The weather was kind this year, cold yes, but it is winter, but the skies were clear and we had a week without the wet or white stuff falling from the sky. We managed to walk every day and the images are from the week of walking……….mostly.

Scenes from around Derwentwater, including some moody mono conversions

At the start of our walk in Crow Park Keswick

A Cormorant dries its wings

Skiddaw and Little Man from the Portinscale Path. Crosthwaite Church nestles in the lee of the hills

Hawes End jetty – The launches were closed for the winter so we walked round.

Us on Hawes Jetty

South west end of Derwentwater – a moody mono.

Christmas Day Walk. Lat year (2024) we joined a semi-organised group on a 6 mile walk from Keswick. This year, the organiser was back and announced via social media that he would once again be leading a walk over Latrigg Fell leaving from Moot Hall in Keswick centre.

Last year there were 82. This year over 130 people and a few dogs joined the walk, which was amazing.

Meeting up.

130 of us at the start

Setting off – 130 plus walkers and dogs embark on Christmas morning walk, leaving the old Keswick railway station.

Our walk leaders – Sarah and Jay

The walk – 130 people walking up Latrigg it was a bit crowded and the sheep were bit bemused.

The Landscape photographer in me is never far away as seen below:

Top and Centre – Looking south from Latrigg summit. Bottom – Look behind you, you might misss the view!

Finally, one of us on top of Latrigg. We did not linger long, it was bitter cold and breezy.

Skiddaw House is a remote youth hostel accessible only by walking in from Keswick or Threlkeld. It lies on the path of the Cumbria way about three miles from the Blencathra Outdoor Centre. We had a walk there on Boxing Day to blow off the cobwebs of the night before!

An icy waterfall on the walk to Skiddaw House.

A different view of Sharp Edge and Blencathra from the Cumbria Way

The way home

One of Lyn’s – just to prove a mobile phone camera is just as good!

Latrigg Fell from its other side

The afternoon view across Crow Park Keswick

Another walk – Derwentwater in the background.

Walking through Great Wood

I love a bit of Intentional Camera Movement – Trees in Great Wood

Another of Lyn’s woodland scenes.

View across to Skiddaw from the path through Great Wood

Our last day in Keswick and we did a short walk from town up the path to Walla Crag before turning off to Castlerigg Stone Circle site whereby had lunch, before returning to pack. Another Christmas over

This is entitled “Resting Between Courses” and is one of the resident Highland Cows that lives in this field beside the path leading up to Walla Crag.

Lyn’s image of the same Heelan Coo

Three views of the Helvellyn Range on the walk to Castlerigg.

What backdrop for horses to graze!

All the above images were taken whilst out on our daily walks.

I always try and get out with my “big” camera whilst we are in Keswick. This time I shot Castlerigg Stone Circle at sunset and an early morning session at Derwentwater. I had originally planned a trip to Buttermere, but the road up to and beyond Honister, en route to my destination, was coated in patches of ice. Deciding discretion to be the better part of valour, I relocated to a car park on the Borrowdale Road alongside Derwentwater where I spent quite a productive hour. Below are a selection of images from these two locations.

Images above looking north from the Stone Circle – Top: Skiddaw and Little Man. Bottom: Blencathra with Sharp Edge the little “notch” below the summit.