Fashion Dog

Some of you will know that Bella does not like wearing her expensive, Finish coat. It was bought to keep her warm on the hills when she was a small Puppy last March. I bought it a little bit too big so she would grow into it and now she has but she does not like wearing it, and she sulks. Sometimes she just sits down and refuses to move!

So I usually carry it in my rucksack just in case. But in the very cold, freezing fog on Pike O'Blisco, I put it on her. She was not pleased but came round to our way of thinking when she stopped shivering. For a Border Terrier she does have a very good natural fur coat of course and it is full of oil which keeps the wet at bay so her fur does not become saturated like other dogs. Even so, when she comes inside the house with wet fur she makes a B line for the rugs in the house and falls on her back kicking and rubbing it against the rug to dry her fur. So our rugs can sometimes be soggy but not our doggy!

Bella's first winter's walking in the Lakes

I just wanted to explain that in future the number of posts on display will be fewer so you will need to use the area called BLOG ARCHIVE and click on the small black arrows on the right to navigate to previous posts. There is an arrow for each month and once clicked it should display a list of posts for that month. Hopefully, the Blog should now be neat and tidy and easy to understand.

Well it has been exciting weather here recently and the tops have had a winter raiment. We had some snow and then we had lots of frost but at least we had no rain, that is not until this week so we can't complain. Also loads of you have been in touch with us which goes to show that this Blog is useful. Some of you came on the walks over Christmas, others of you left comments, some sent us emails and now and then the phone rang. Glad you all found time for us and nice to see some of you starting to plan ahead for this years offerings. We have had more bookings for our planned camping weekend and Pete will be blogging and emailing back as soon as he finalises his route for that weekend as it is his cookie as they say although of course Bella and I are the support group!
Speaking of support, was Bella aware that she was on thin ice?

I actually doubt it because a few moments before this shot she seemed surprised that when she pulled on the lead, her feet went from under her....

Yes, it was her first experience of frozen water as most of you know she is only just over a year old so this was her first icy winter when she was not a puppy in the comfort of her bed with her siblings!


Well Bella certainly had plenty of experience this Christmas as this next shot shows what the top of Pike O' Blisco was like the day we went up last Saturday.


Not a day for the faint hearted I can confirm and the summit was not a place to hang about. Once back down the valley out of the biting cold and terrific wind we headed for the Old DG which surprise, surprise was bulging with would be walkers or walkers who had cut short the day etc.

Anyway, with tales of Langdale Mountain Rescue Team on a callout ringing in our ears we settled down for a nice chat and a cuppa. Just four of eight brave souls who had made it to the top, kira, Bella and us two, in our group; a young couple emerging from the bar (the lady of the party clutching a 'Mulled Wine') who had last been seen on the summit, and 2 other chaps, last seen eating their butties near the summit whom we did not see back at base. It was a jolly gathering I can tell you and we were pretty reluctant to wend our way homeward as the bar was packed and we struck up a conversation with two chaps from SARDA (Search and Rescue Dog Association). I think Bella was relieved when we left as most of the patter was about how to control Border Terriers!!! On reflection, I think the bit about the catapault to sting the derriere of the unsuspecting pooch probably didn't go down too well with her.

Christmas Walks Programme 2008

There seems to be a demand for Christmas walks so in response we've devised a short programme between Christmas and New Year, Pete and Lyn will be leading them together. Our accompanying view of Blencathra shows part of the walk planned for Monday 29 Dec. Lyn and Bella have walked up Mousethwaite Comb from the bus stop at Scales, they're at 345279 and are about to disappear down into the valley of the Glenderatera in front of them. That's the steep grassy flank of Bannerdale Crags on the right; beyond is Blencathra with the bare rock of Sharp Edge leading upwards to the top of snow clad Foule Crag. The route follows the Glenderamakin to the col between Bannerdale Crags and Blencathra at 328292. From there it's a stiff climb to the top of Foule Crag followed by an easy stroll to the summit of Blencathra 868m/2847ft. From there we make a fine airy traverse of the summit ridge to Blease Fell top, then descend to the Blencathra Centre and back to Keswick along the old Railway Track.

Grade A, 9 miles, meet 10am Keswick Moot Hall, £12 each, bus fare extra.



Saturday 29 December's walk starts as usual from outside the Moot Hall in the centre of Keswick; we'll take the launch across Derwentwater to Hawes End then ascend the steep north ridge; there are some surprising rocky outcrops towards the top that need to be negotiated with care, especially in the wet; the views from the ridge are wonderful so we hope for clear weather over the Christmas week. It's about a mile from the summit of Catbells 14181ft to Maiden Moor 1887ft, our second Wainwright peak of the day, then on along the broad ridge between Borrowdale and Newlands Valley to High Spy, highest of the day's tops at 2143ft. We descend steeply from this point south towards Rigg Head then follow Tongue Gill down through the old quarry workings to the valley floor and the village of Rosthwaite for the bus back to Keswick.
Photo: Catbells from Latrigg above Spooney Green Lane last winter.

Grade B, 6 miles, meet 10am Keswick Moot Hall, £12 each, transport extra.


On Wednesday 31December the walk is a circuit of Derwentwater, there's no transport involved, we start and finish walking from the Moot Hall. It's a varied and interesting walk with fine open views. It's just over 10 miles but there are no serious ascents, only the short pull up to Walla Crag at 1234ft the highest point of the outing, then it's easy going down to Ashness Bridge and along the track towards Watendlath, though we turn down through the woods to High Lodore Farm well before the hamlet is reached. We cross the marshy head of Derwentwater by the newly refurbished boardwalk and turn north along the west shoreline of the lake. The path wends its way through fine woodland with ever changing vistas across the lake, it leads past Peter Rabbit's garden to Nichol End and from there it is a short walk through Portinscale back to the bright lights of Keswick on New Year's Eve.

Grade B, 10miles, meet Keswick Moot Hall 10am, £12 each

Photo: Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite Lake from Walla Crag last winter.