To the (even) Chillier North …

It’s winter… the snow is on the ground…so what to do ?

-Go to the Lakes, why not ? (even though I woke to heavy snow at home )

A great forecast for a week of ice cold,snowy weather up in the Lake District, had me booking a ‘soft’ stay in the Patterdale Hotel, in surprise,surprise…Patterdale !, and I headed out from home, in the heavy snow, soon to become fog, as I traversed Greater Manchester, and travelled north… however, as I did so, the fog started to ease, revealing …green fields!!, little or no snow ! Hope I’ve not packed the wrong gear ?

As I headed off the motorway, towards Keswick, I turned on to the Kirkstone Pass – one of the highest in England,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirkstone_Pass with all the warning signs telling of it’s danger…in Winter ! As I drove higher, and higher, the road did indeed become icy, covered in hard snow…but too late, I had to keep going…up and over, past the Kirkstone Pass Inn, and ‘The struggle’ – another road from Keswick, closed due to icy snow…As I saw a car transporter in front of me, with a smashed up sports car on it…I thought…Oh,oh, but by now I was on the ‘downhill’, with views of icy mountains in front of me, classic Lake District winter views, and Ullswater in the distance (2nd biggest Lake ).. Onward and downwards, soon to be in Patterdale, and checking in at the Hotel !http://www.patterdalehotel.co.uk/

I had made the first tricky bit…

It may not have had as much low lying snow as at home, but it was certainly icy…as I found when I wandered around Patterdale, and nearby Glenridding ..

More views around the area, then back to the Hotel, butties made for tomorrows sustenance… and then a wonderful 3 course dinner…I think it should get me up the hills tomorrow…

I’m looking forward to it…are you ??