There wasn't much light as we left the village at 8am.

Ahead lay the snow covered fells.

First colour of dawn.

Rising above the cold valley.

Zeta leads the way.

Christmas Day dawns.

Rosy tints to Bannerdale Crags. We had originally planned to ascend via the east ridge but the depth of fresh snow would have made it hard going so we opted for this, easier route.

In the early light.

Blencathra comes into view.

Onwards and upwards, this was a testing trudge in the new snow.

Blencathra over the escarpment.

Zeta waits for us.

The Skiddaw range.

Blencathra and Sharp Edge.

A close up of Sharp Edge from Bannerdale Crags summit. The two little dots on the snow slope at the top of Foule crag are a climber and his dog who we had just watched traversing the edge.

The lesser cairn on Bannerdale Crags summit.

Looking down into the valley with the distant North Pennine Fells.

The view as we descend White Horse Bent.

Brunt Knott and Sharp Edge.

Skis would have been more suitable for the descent.

The team waits patiently as I get my photographs.

Walkers ascend Scales Fell.

After crossing the valley the view of Blencathra was still stunning.

Esther breaks back into the warm sunlight.

Mousthwaite Col and a first meeting of other walkers.

From the slopes of Souther Fell, we had descended Bannerdale Crags by the slope on the right.

Great Mell Fell to the south east.

Blencathra and Bannerdale Crags from the Shepherds cairn on Souther Fell.

On Souther Fell summit.

and the view, note the cloud cover which has suddenly appeared on Blencathra.

Descending the ridge to Mungrisdale Village.

Following the fence line back to the road.

And the Mill Inn, sadly closed today.

We were now back at the car after a very enjoyable day out.