Around Ambleside

Distance: 7.2 miles
Ascent: 360m
Weather: overcast
Buzzards, roe deer, goosander

Some last minute route planning took us up Sweden Bridge Road but turned off early up the footpath towards Kirkstone Road and Roundhill Farm. Early promise of no hordes was disappointed, especially around the bottom of the path to Wansfell, but we had some peace and quiet in the woods near Jenkin's Crag. We looked at the champion trees, including the tallest tree in Cumbria,  and saw a roe deer.

Dropping down to the lakeside, we walked around Jenkin's Field to Holme Crag and then around the shore up around the roman fort and through the park.

WWT Caerlaverock

A trip to South West Scotland, where an American Wigeon was much talked of, possibly gazed upon, and some haggis was eaten.

Chaffinch
Mallard
Wigeon
Teal
Shovellers
Barnacle geese
Green winged teal
Little egret
Pintail
Redshank
Shelduck
Godwit
Curlew
Robin
Sparrow
Tufted ducks
Canada geese
Whooper Swan
Mute Swan
Moorhen
Greylag
Lapwing
Oyster catcher
Kestrel (outside reserve)
Hen harrier
Pink footed goose
Little grebe
Pheasant
Crow
Great tit
Blue tit
Blackbird
Starling
Roe deer
Fox
Hebredian sheep

Loughrigg Terrace and Tarn

Distance: 8 miles
Ascent: 350m
Weather: chilly, misty

Today was cold, with patches of misty clouds in the valleys. Let down by the Co-Op and their lack of cheese ploughman's, lunch was got at the Spar.

We headed out through the park and along the lane to Pelter Bridge, then along the river bank to Rydal Water and along Loughrigg Terrace.

There were fewer people around on the path away from the lakes and at the arboretum at High Close and a few, but not as many as feared, at Loughrigg Tarn.

We returned along the bridleway track under Ivy Crag over the edge of the fell, stopping to take many sheep photos.

Claife Heights to Ambleside

Distance: 10 miles
Ascent: 500m
Weather: sunny

The day began with a trip on the ferry from Ambleside to Bowness, calling in at the supermarket for sammiches, chocolate and bizarre antioxidant drink, before (finally) catching the ferry across to the eastern side of Windermere.  The ferry crossing has been modernised and you are now required to buy a ticket from a machine (there is only one and it was causing so much confusion) before boarding. There was a long queue,  but eventually we were underway.

Thankfully the people from the long queue all decided to turn up the lakeside track, leaving us to visit the viewing station in peace. The woodland path was as muddy and steep as ever.

After a couple of brief stops to de-coat and take a photo of a woodpecker, we walked along the path through the trees, taking the higher, longer route towards High Blind Howe. Pausing at the crossroads to take a picture of a friendly robin, two lots of walkers asked us for directions.  We obviously look like we have a clue where we are. Which we did. Fortunately.

Lunch was had at the picnic tables at Wray Castle, where we saw some grey squirrels and jackdaws.

The new path led us back to Ambleside in the setting sun, through Clappersgate and Rothay Park.

Red Screes

Distance: 8.3 miles
Ascent:
Weather: very windy
Buzzards, hardy Herdys, possible kestrel

After a false start, to collect spikes and a rucksack cover, we actually missed the one rain shower of the day.

We headed up Scandale again,  this time not stopping at High Sweden Bridge but continuing beyond Scandale Bottom and up Scandale Pass.

Turning up to Broad Crag, we stopped for lunch by the wall which provided a bit of shelter before heading up to Red Screes.

From the windswept top plateau we came south along the ridge, thankfully wide and grassy, so although we were blown about a bit it wasn't too hard going.

We disturbed some sheep who'd been sheltering behind the dry stone walls further down the ridge, although others seemed quite happy out in it.

We came through the edge of a grassy field and out on to Kirkstone Pass and followed this back into Ambleside.

High Sweden Bridge and Scandale

Distance: 5 miles
Ascent: 350m
Weather: overcast, oddly warm
Christmas sheep, Christmas robin, Christmas crows, heard Christmas buzzard.

Christmas morning walk up to High Sweden Bridge and along the track into Scandale, crossing a few streams across the path, up to the pine trees and back.

Loughrigg Fell and Grasmere

Distance: 9.8 miles
Ascent: 650m
Weather: cloudy
Swans, mallards, goosander, tufty duck, heard buzzard, long tailed tits.

With rain due in the afternoon and the forecast of gales downgraded, we set off early(ish) over Loughrigg Fell.

The flooding in the park from yesterday's rain had drained away, and the road was clear. We saw a red squirrel (and robin) not long after setting off up the lane.

It was windy on the top and coming down the exposed hillside into Grasmere. We decided to take the longer side around into the village and return along the coffin route,  via Rydal Hall, into Ambleside.

Stockghyll Force

Distance: not much
Ascent: a little
Weather: wet

We left the house to go and look at the waterfalls and get some fresh air and exercise. Went up and around Stockghyll and Rothay Park.

We've had a spot of rain. Pics taken yesterday vs today.

Wansfell Pike and Baystones

Distance: 10.8 miles
Ascent: about 750m
Weather: wet start, sunny spells
Deer: 2
Red squirrels: 2
Wet feet: 2

Dark and rainy morning,  we thought we'd waited long enough before setting off but it was still very wet as we walked up Stockghyll (good weather for waterfalls) and up on to Wansfell. It was more sunny but windy up on the tops.

Our path led north up to Baystones, where we stood on some lumpy hillocks to make sure that we'd got the top as it's a Birkett.

The path then led us through wet grass and bog towards the road which we walked along for a little way before turning down a bridleway that was a little muddy,  but pretty, and we saw deer, red squirrels and blue tits.

We stopped for lunch at a bench in Troutbeck, joined by jackdaws and a robin,  then followed the track into Ambleside.

Mere Sands Woods

An otherwise pleasant morning at Mere Sands woods, slightly marred by strange goings on and a missing person.

Rat vs Squirrel fight, egged on by Blackbird and Robin, with various feathered spectators. 

Moorhen
Gadwall
Teal mallard
Blue tit
Magpie
Reed bunting
Blackbird
Robin
Dunnock
Grey heron
Cormorants
Tufty duck
Shovellers
Great crested grebe
Shelduck
Goosanders
Coal tit
Nuthatch
Chaffinch
Great tit
Crow
Little egret
Moorhen

Martin Mere

Wren
Goldfinch
Redshank
Pintail
Wigeon
Teal
Mallard
Whooper Swan
Greylag
Coot
Lapwing
Moorhen
Cormorants
Shelduck
Black tailed godwit
Ruff
Pheasant
Blackbird
Buzzard
Black headed gull winter plumage
Greenfinch
Blue tit
Great tit
Robin
Chaffinch
Tree sparrow
Dunnock
Water rail
Little grebe
Marsh harrier
Grey heron
Kingfisher
Gadwall
Snipe
Little Rat
Long tailed tits
Reed bunting
Coal tit
Pink footed geese
Kestrel
Canada geese
Tufty duck
Pochard
Shoveller

Fairburn Ings

Weather: blumming chuffing freezing
Slightly hazy, but dry

Kingfisher
Robin
Goosander
Cormorant
Golden eye
Pochard
Gadwall
Shoveller
Mallard
Great crested grebe
F Smew?
Grey heron
Coot
Tufted duck
Snipe
Mute swan
Lesser Black Backed Gull
Common gulls

Heritage Coast

Distance: 12.5 miles
Ascent: 300m
Weather: bright, warm in sun, cold out
Wrens, stone chats, robin, thrush, reed bunting, ships not going anywhere, oyster catchers, small wader ringed plover things? and goldfinches.

Massively overdressed for the conditions,  we set off from Limekiln Gill and headed north along the English Coastal Path / Heritage Coast up to the railway bridge at Hive Point at the end of Hawthorn Dene.  We decided against am ascent of Beacon Hill, as my feet and shins were protesting that I'd decided to wear my winter boots.

We turned back and found a handy bench for lunch, with views south towards Hartlepool,  just as the clouds covered the sun and the temperature dropped.

Southbound, we dropped to the beach at Warren House Gill, where for a while there was a good hard surface to walk on, then we ventured onto the shingly sand, passing people fishing and having fires.

The tide was coming in, and the spray chillsome, it seemed warmer up on the cliffs when we turned north to head back to the car. For a while anyway.