Half a Coledale Horseshoe

With a good 'Felltops' forecast we set off to do the Coledale round. A Lakeland classic....but the weather forecast was telling fibs  - as other walkers acknowledged. Swirling cloud lowered and turned to rain - cold rain and very little visibility. Wet and slippery in parts, so rather than do the whole horseshoe we did the southern half of: Barrow Door through to High Moss and onto Sail, then Crag Hill (Eel Crag) and down to Coledale Hause before descending into the valley. We decided against Causey Pike as coming off it down onto Sleet How is steep and slippery at the best of times. Back home and it had been dry and sunny all day! 

So a few pictures - not many. 

Looking up to Sail......

and down to Force Crag Mine. 

Classic views from somewhere between Sail and Eel Crag...and below! 

Another classic view! 

Descending into the dry and visible at Coledale Hause.

Looking across to Oughterside and Barrow the sun came out - before more dampness drifted in! 

Wedholme Flow lichens

A different walk today, with my father, looking for lichens. Lots to find and while I don't know their names, I can appreciate their complexity and beauty....

Walking out to the reserve the area on the left, with its sandstone posts, hosts a range of crustose lichens ...

On leaving the main track we soon found ourselves among a range of spectacular Cladonia species ...

Happiness is ...

Fox Moth caterpillar.

Long-tailed tit.

Common Hawker.

Just a lovely day - thanks Dad! 

The Fairfield horseshoe

Yesterday: A good forecast before Storm Babet is supposed to arrive so time to make the most of the weather! ..I read the bit that said 'Staying dry and bright during daylight hours' but kind of ignored the ' Strengthening easterly winds, summit gales and severe wind chill later in the day' ...it was invigorating! Great views as always but we didn't stop long for photos as it was a tad breezy! If I were doing the Wainwrights again - that would be another eight to add to the total so far. 

Beginning to gain hight - the steep paved pull up Nab Scar.

Overlooking Rydal and Windermere.

Towards Fairfield...

Towards Great Rigg and Fairfield.

A lower cloud level in Langdale.

Looking down Scandale Beck.

Looking back up at Faifield and Dove Crag.

Following the wall back down to Ambleside (looking back). 

Back to Wedholme Flow

The autumn colours are really beginning to intensify on the mosses...this time we walked round the longer (blue) route....Wedholme is rapidly becoming a favourite local walk, with Rocky particularly loving the soft peaty ground...

While some colours are intensifying, others are being washed out making it hard to spot the dragonflies and darters once they have landed.

Looking across to Criffel.

..and in the opposite direction to Skiddaw.

All was calm...

Very tranquil.

Skiddaw skyline. 

Derwentwater fungi and lichens

The path between Kettlewell carpark and Lodore Hotel, under the screes, is always a fabulous example of temperate rain forest ....

Mossy lushness...

Apologies - bit I don't do moss id. 

I can, however, admire their forms....

So fern like...

Peltigera membranacea  ...and close ups below...

Candle Snuff fungus in various stages ...below.