A winter walk from Hartsop to the Knott via Hayeswater Tarn.

The promising forecast of a clear, sunny day between Christmas and New Year prompted us to dig out our boots and head for Kirkstone Pass and the Eastern Lakeland fells. It was a beautiful clear morning when we set off; Windermere was calm and peaceful, with just a hint of morning mist lingering over the water.

As we drove along Kirkstone Pass towards Brothers Water we suddenly found ourselves surrounded by low lying cloud which made the previously bright and sunny day seem like a memory.

  We parked the car at the tiny hamlet of Hartsop in the Patterdale valley and set off towards Hayeswater, a small tarn which has only recently been restored to its natural state after having been dammed and used as a reservoir from 1908 until 2005. The reservoir was used to provide water for the nearby town of Penrith.
 





The sun struggled to break through at first which added a certain mysterious atmosphere to our walk.

Our route climbed up alongside Hayeswater Gill. 




The Knott, with its snow capped top was just visible in the distance.
 This area is a Red Deer conservation site and we were lucky enough to spot several as we walked.

 As our route took us higher, the vista began to open up with views of Striding Edge, Helvellyn and Catstye Cam peeping over the top of the clouds.

Another group were walking off their Christmas Pudding by clambering up the snowy slopes of Gray Crag.

We continued on our route until Hayeswater came into view, looking decidedly cold and spooky under its veil of cold misty air.

 A little further on the ground gradually became more snow covered. We were walking in full sunshine now though and couldn't have asked for better weather. The views in every direction were spectacular. The silence was broken by the noise of a helicopter which was circling over the Striding Edge area. Hopefully no-one was in need of rescuing on this occasion.

Although it was very calm on this particular day, the ice formations on the grass stems were proof of the direction and intensity of the prevailing wind.

Not far from the summit another panorama came into view, towards Ullswater.

Rest Dodd and The Nab put us in mind of slumbering dinosaurs as they stretched out into the distance.






A final clamber up a short slope brought us to the cairn at the summit, where we ate our sandwiches whilst enjoying the beautiful scenery.
 


 

 Our return route meant retracing our footsteps, more or less. The moon was rising above the Knott as we descended.

We made a slight detour which brought us closer to Hayeswater, which was now free from mist and mirror like in its stillness.

 Almost back at Hartsop, a last glance back to see the setting sun turning the felltops pink.

The sun was setting as we drove back along Kirkstone Pass. A beautiful end to a beautiful day.

 Thanks for visiting my blog, I hope you've enjoyed the photos which can be viewed full size by clicking on them. 

Happy New Year to you all!