Last years favourites

Whilst the weather has been a bit grim latley and opportunities to get out with the camera have been sparse, I have spent some time sorting through last years pictures and pulling out some of my favourites,some great memories of some special days out.

The first was from a magical morning at RSPB Leighton Moss watching the Red Deer as the sun rose, this stag waded across the pool in front of me.



This stag put his head out of the reeds for a moment then disappeared back in



A few shots from an amazing trip to the Bass Rock to see the Gannet colony, loved every minute of it.







A few close ups of this stunning bird







And diving for fish



Next, Kingfishers at Meresands Wood









A big invasion of Waxwings from Scandanavia this winter



Another memorable trip last year was to the Farne Islands, great memories of the Puffins and Arctic terns





Right place at the right time to see this Tawny Owl at Leighton Moss



Little Egret in Morecombe Bay



Heron on my local pond

Mardale and Newlands Horseshoe

At last got a chance to get my last two walks posted, they were two crackers, the first was up to Mardale, I think probably my favourite area of the Lakes and on a nice day it is a really stunning place, and home to the only Golden Eagle in England, although I didnt see it this time. The second walk was the Newlands Horseshoe in the North western lakes, taking in Cat Bells, Maiden Moor, High Spy, Dale Head and Hindscarth. This was a glorious morning and the photos dont really do it justice, it was just a pleasure to be up there.

MARDALE

Started this post with one of the last photos taken showing how the day turned out, a stunning view across to Rough Crag, Riggindale and Kidsty Pike



It was a lot grimmer when I started first thing at Mardale Head at the head of Haweswater



My route was off the main path following the course of Blea Water Beck, up to Blea Water, one of the waterfalls along the beck



The photo below is on the approach along the beck to the outflow of Blea Water, Blea water crags in the background



A from a little higher up, Blea water and my route up onto Long Stile at Caspell Gate and then up onto High Street



Looking down on Blea Water from Long Stile



Very cold on High Street



Typical, by the time I walked to Mardale Ill Bell and looked back the summit of High Street had cleared



Looking down into Kentmere from Mardale Ill Bell



Harter Fell from Mardale Ill Bell



Looking down my route of descent, to Small Water and Haweswater



The Kentmere fell ponies on the slopes of Harter Fell



looking into the Kentmere valley at the Nan Bield Pass



Small Water on the descent from Nan Bield



Very cold out of the sun down at Small Water, a majestic place



Waterfalls on the beck out of Small Water



Haweswater, with glacial Drumlins in the foreground



One of the most stunning views in the Lakes, looking across Haweswater to Rough Crag, High St, and Kidsty Pike



The valley of Riggindale, stunning place and home on the crags to the Golden Eagle



The last view as I leave



Todays route



NEWLANDS HORSESHOE

This was a cracker of a walk, in great conditions, I had hoped for an inversion and an early start from Preston in thick fog was promising. When I arrived at Hawes End to start the walk up onto Cat bells the mist was lingering over Derwent Water, but it wasnt the full inversion I had hoped for. But nonetheless a great walk, the photos dont really do it justice.

Looking over Derwent Water towards Blencathra as the sun starts to rise



Same view a little higher up



Looking over Derwent water to the High Seat fells



Beautiful colours as the rising sun hits the side of Cat Bells



My route up onto Cat Bells



A great view from the climb to Maiden Moor, Skiddaw and Blencathra across Keswick and Derwent Water



Skiddaw and Blencathra from the summit of Cat Bells



looking across Cat Bells to Skiddaw and bassenthwaite lake covered in mist



Blencathra catching the early morning sunshine



Skiddaw



Dale Head from High Spy



The north face of Dale Head



Bowfell, centre photo from Dale Head



Great Gable and Kirk Fell from Dale Head



Looking down the Newlands valley from Dale Head



The Newlands valley from the walk off Dale Head to Hindscarth



From the same point looking into the Buttermere valley



Grasmoor and the north western fells from Hindscarth



The Newlands horseshoe route