Best of both...

Happy New Year to everyone - I hope 2016 brings you all much happiness.

We'd made our plan for New Years Day when the weather was a little milder - but waking today to see the tops a fair bit more than dusted with snow we decided that we'd stick to it - so after a hungover lazy start we made our way round to Ullswater with the kayaks on the car roof. Our plan had been to park in one of the bays on the West side and launch from a beach - however it quickly became apparent that the beaches are still under 3ft or so of water - Ullswater is a BIG lake - that's a lot of water!

Once we were in it was a little choppy - but still surprisingly warm - so we had a lovely round trip from Skelly Neb to Aira Point & back - but everywhere along the shore there was evidence of the damage done by the recent storms - smashed boats - beautiful homes ruined - in one of the extra's you can see us kayaking through Dobbin Wood where the lakeshore path should be.

After a hearty picnic (no thanks to whoever stole our not well enough hidden flask) we dried off, changed and then set off up Gowbarrow Fell via Aira Force. I've not been through this National Trust show piece since its recent improvements - but it was great to see so many families and the elderly out enjoying the really well maintained path. Once we passed High Force we were, as expected, on our own though. Gowbarrow isn't that high (481m) and the trig point summit has a pleasant view - but its more westerly second summit offers an exceptional view to the South - past Silver Point and across to Birks & a snowcapped St Sunday with Helvellyn standing tall & white just glimpsed too.

The sky carried a pleasing menace to it - hopefully more snow - certainly in the biting wind it seemed cold enough; so we headed down in the gloaming via the enticing line of ring contours towards Green Hill.
A grand start to the year.