Skiddaw in winter is when (in my view) it looks it’s very best. The majestic might of the range in which this mountain stands is situated high above Derwentwater, close to the town of Keswick in the North Lakes & it draws me back time & again. It has a summit rising to 3,054 feet & is the sixth highest mountain in England. As much as I love summer (& I DO love summer) you can probably deduce from the timing of this blog post I am chomping at the bit for the coming change of seasons since autumn & winter are my absolute favourite months for spending time in photographic heaven.
On the particular morning I took this shot a few years ago, we were staying in a hotel in Borrowdale at the bottom end of the lake & woke to one of the clearest, crispiest mornings we have ever experienced. The light was incredible & our eyes were on stalks as we took in the snow-capped mountains reflected in the clear blue of the lake below.
Sometimes the beauty of the lake district is truly hard to absorb, & when faced with a scene like this I never want to leave. I get that this can be a tad difficult if I’m with someone, because standing around in the cold for hours on end can be a bit taxing on the old extremities.
If you want to experience the mountain first hand of course, winter walking can be very rewarding & the views amazing, but if planning a hike in the winter months do take precautions, plan your route & be prepared for changes in weather which can happen very quickly. Please, please don’t go up in your trainers or wellies, as I have seen on a more than a few occasions – the conditions can be treacherous & the mountain rescue folks have enough on their plate without having to collect numpties from the hillside.
I have attached some info about winter walking courses & a walk up Skiddaw for your delectation. Enjoy (& more importantly keep safe)!
https://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/visiting/things-to-do/walking/winter-skills-day-courses