Over Wansfell

Distance: 8 miles
Ascent: 600m
Weather: mostly cloudy
Robins, wrens, ponies, kestrels, buzzard

Wall incidents: 0 and I don't know what you are talking about 

The bad weather passed during the morning, leaving the rest of the day set fair (ish) so we set off armed with Wispa bars and Ribena to climb Wansfell,  via the Stockghyll falls. I wore my new hiking skirt, and was pretty impressed by how warm and comfortable it is. 

There were quite a lot of people out on the hill, most enjoying themselves,  some quite competitive. The sun came out briefly as we were at the top of the hill (we didn't go to the actual peak) with impressive views over Windermere. 

We headed down to Nanny Lane and down into Troutbeck.  The Old Post Office cafe was open, so we stopped for sandwiches and tea, then followed the track via Jenkin's Crag and Tesco supermarket for  New Year's Eve supplies.  It rained heavily as we approached town but had stopped by the time we'd finished shopping.

Wray Castle

Distance: 10 miles
Ascent:
Weather: cloudy
Grey heron, cormorant,  goosanders,  mallards, jackdaws, blackbirds and robins

A wet morning dried out into a cloudy, overcast afternoon,  dry but without the promised spells of sunshine. There was one tiny patch of blue sky visible for a short while. We walked from Ambleside to Wray Castle,  around the lakeshore path to the campsite (handily open to non campers) and back the way we'd come. The path was icy slushy in places but easy going, which was good as it was nearly dark when we got back to town.

Coniston to Ambleside along the Cumbria Way

Distance: 11 miles
Ascent:
Weather: cold and frosty

We got the 10:14 bus (when it arrived)  to Coniston and, after a brief wander around the village,  headed off along the Cumbria Way. It was clear and sunny,  with fine views and the ground was hard and mostly frozen. This was useful at the muddy sections but meant care was needed on some icy patches.

We called in at the visitor centre at Tarn Howes for first aid on scratches caused by a label and to use the facilities, complete with slimy hand gel.

The tarns were very pretty and very popular. The Cumbria Way heads away part way round through woodland and along a track that leads to the road to Skelwith. We stopped along the grassy path for some lunch, where there was sheepy entertainment.

At Skelwith we took the path avoiding the road, over a footbridge over the river and through the busy car park at the cafe.

The sun was starting to go down as we walked over the end of Loughrigg Fell under Ivy Crag, making long shadows and lighting the snowy tops orange.

Red Screes

Distance: 8 miles
Ascent: 700m
Weather: cold and clear

We began from High Sweden Bridge and along Scandale. The track was a little icy but there was less water than on Christmas Day,  the water level in the streams much lower and the crossings manageable, with some splashing.   Heading up the end of the valley we reached the snow line, through a muddy mix of bog and snow, then through snow. It was crunchy snowy ice at the top, and we didn't need to put our spikes on, but more layers of clothing were needed and still it was cold.

We sheltered behind a wall while we had lunch, just as we were preparing to set off again a fell runner arrived who was planning to meet some friends who were running up from the other side, it was not an ideal place to be hanging around in lycra shorts. He eventually gave up waiting and overtook us on his way down.

The descent was relatively gentle and with only a couple of slides we made it down to the grassy sheep fields.

Christmas Day Walk to Sweden Bridge

Distance:
Ascent:
Weather: heavy rain
Feet: wet
Everything: wet

Our Christmas morning walk was very wet this year. We walked up to High Sweden Bridge and then along the track up Scandale,  but not very far as the path was flooded where the streams crossed. Eventually we reached one that was too deep for Rob's boots and decided to turn back and return to the cottage for tea and mince pies.