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.