From Arnside Pier

A day of walking in the Lake District, under fabulous cloud-flecked blue skies, the fells striated with bands of snow that had stubbornly refused to melt. The thaw since Thursday has been astonishingly rapid, and the snow has rapidly vanished from the lower ground, and most of it from the mountains too.

Matt and I arrived early at the top of Kirkstone Pass. We found ourselves a snowy gully to justify getting the ice axes out, and we kicked steps on our way to the top. The view from the top of Red Screes on a day of near perfect visibility like today encompasses the Helvellyn & Fairfield Range, Coniston Old Man to Wetherlam, the Scafell Range, High Street as well as the lower fells of Bowfell and Crinkle Crags.

Creaking knees prevented a longer walk to take in Fairfield, but we had a good amble across the top and gradually worked our way down towards Brothers Water, then walked back up Kirkstone.

We took a multitude of photographs along the way. It's ironic then, that my chosen blip is taken a half a mile from home. As I came back at about 4 pm, the sun had set and there was the best sunset I have seen all year, reflected in the water in the bay off Arnside. I couldn't resist.

I have posted 5 pictures from the walk on Red Screes here.