Middle Fell, Seatallan and Buckbarrow circuit

Another gloriously sunny day with a stiff breeze. This time a walk from Greendale up onto Middle Fell and then across behind Greendale Tarn and up (steep) onto Seatallan, before a very pleasant stroll down onto Glade How and down off Buckbarrow, before returning to the car at Greendale. Although no paths are shown on the OS map, they are there! It was exceptionally windy on Seatallan, so quite hard walking and not too many photogrpahs as holding the camera still was an issue! Superb views though, especially of the Scafells. The highlight was a cracking view of a feeding Ring Ouzel, just as we descended towards the road alongside Gill Beck. 

Buckbarrow from Middle Fell - there is no way down the face so you come down on the farside of the crag. 

From Middle Fell across Wastwater towards the Scafells. 

Looking across to Seatallan from Middle Fell.

From the lower parts of Seatallan looking back to Middle Fell.

And zooming in to the Scafells. 

Fortunately there was a shelter on the top of Seatallan; lunch stop view with Sellafield in the hazy distance. 

The summit cairn - everything looks so pale in the bright light.

From Buckbarrow looking back at Middle Fell and Seatallan with Haycock in the far distance.

A classic view.

Wasdale Screes.

Looking back down to the road. 

Langdale Five

A gloriously sunny day and being as it's mid week and before Easter, a quiet walk round the Langdales. Breezy on the tops mind, with a decent wind chill! We parked at Stickle Barn - ideal for the post walk pint - up the steep path to Stickle tarn - round the tarn and up Pavey Ark - some nice scrambly bits, then onto Thunacarr Knott - across to Harrison Stickle; onto Pike O'Stickle - another nice scramble and then back down over Loft Crag and back down into the valley. Another excellent day out!

Pavey Ark and Stickle Tarn.

Looking down over Stickle Tarn from Pavey Ark.

The top of Pavey Ark...

And Thunacarr Knott.

Looking down on Pike O'Stickle from Thunacarr Knott.

From Harrison Stickle looking across to Bowfell.

Pike O'Stickle and Bowfell.

From Pike O'Stickle looking along to Loft Crag, with Harrison Stickle on the left.

Descending into the valley...

...and a pint!

St Bees

A glorious day and a lovely walk out along St Bees headland. A good number of Razorbills and Guillemots, two Puffins, which was nice and a Black Guillemot. Bluebells, Thrift and Red Campion were just coming out, while the Primroses and Celandines were at their best. 

Bluebells and Thrift.

Rafts of birds on the sea below. 

Guillemots on the cliffs - on their rookeries....and below.

Razorbills...and below.

Guillemots - but just look at the lovely cross-bedding in the sandstone cliff. 

One of the two Puffins we saw ...

Signs of spring - and below. 

Fleswick Bay.

I can never resist a wave photo! 

...or patterns, honeycomb weathering, in rocks. 

Speleothem

 A fortnight ago I started playing round with collages based loosely on our trip round Whitescar Caves. They resuted in a collage montage and this then turned into a patchworked and quilted piece. All the fabrics were hand-dyed pieces of cotton etc. Some have Gelli printing on them to add texture....

One of the original collages. 

The paper plan ...

The textile piece...and below - details: 

Ferns Book

In an attempt to develop some ideas for my next textile piece, I had a play. So here are some of the pages from today's sketchbook. Now to fathom why I like some more than others and how to combine them into a design....