Paraffin Pathfinder, Lake District Round, 10th March 2013 Day 3 & 4, Boot-Buttermere-Keswick   .....click on the photos for a better view

Long day today.....              "

better get going early  "

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"   The sun struggles to warm Eskdale Mill in the village of Boot.

"  First operation recorded in 1294,

"    ... it welcomes visitors still.

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Looking back into Eskdale, the valley awakens slowly  "

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    The bridleway follows Wilfan Beck  beneath Eskdale Fell until the Bulatt Bridge at Burnmoor Tarn. "  The water looks beautiful.... don't even think of going in. Freezing! " "

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Passing the Maiden Castle cairn, the deepest lake in England should be here abouts...  "

...but where?    "

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Five hundred yards later....

"  Aha! there you are, Wast Water.

"  Yewbarrow dominates the far shore as Wasdale Head leads into the horseshoe of Mosedale.

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" From the derelict stone buildings above Fence Wood, the view extends to the near peaks..... "

"             Kirk Fell...     Great Gable...     Lingmell...                 "

"     Behind the shadow of the wall and hidden by nearer slopes , lurks the highest mountain in England, Scafell Pike at 3209ft

  " "  Lingmell Beck with a background of mountain sentinels. The river looks tranquil but when it does rage, the walker must retire to the bridge and use the tarmac road to the village. " "

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The planned route out of Mosedale cuts the skyline at the right hand edge of the photograph.... Black Sail Pass "

Our modern world lives in a hyperbole of advertising media and headlines: stand here and listen....  all those superlatives seem superfluous.        "

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"  Delicate bottle green, crystal clear and sweet, the River Liza runs into Ennerdale Water

"   ... who needs refrigerated fizzy drinks?

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" Yet one more climb out of a valley, the third and lowest of the day but after the previous two, the legs are too tired notice the difference.....

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.... and then finally Buttermere. The lake's very name evokes a scene of pastoral tranquility  "

The desire to stop for reflection is irresistible. "

The end of another day's  wonderful walking.

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After breakfast....whoa! What happened to the blue skies?

Low Ling Crag juts out into Crummock Water, behind Rannerdale Knotts brushes the cloud base.

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Lying at the water's edge to take the photograph, it was hard to keep a level head at the adventure in store. The top of Whiteside emerges from the mist as it stands guard to Gasgale Gill... the way through the mountains.

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"      Rain turns to snow and the footing is treacherous along the path of loose shale next to Liza Beck

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Winter sculptures look pretty but get too close and the unwary walker would be up to the knees in icy melt water."

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" " "  At around 1650 ft above sea level, sky and scenery merge into one at Coledale Hause " " "

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The way down and the road to Keswick. Time for lunch... Waiter! The table with the best view in town, please."

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Two more days to go, come back later and read about beautiful Grisedale Tarn"