The Mushroom Shelter with Red Screes snow-clad
Last night was cold and clear, a starry night. The morning began with bright sunlight and a sharp frost.
The Mushroom Shelter is a viewpoint on Scout Scar, with a panorama of snow-clad fells on this last day in November. Recent weeks had been wet and dreary, the days growing shorter, so a brilliant Sunday brought forth walkers, runners and families with small children.
Views to the north were spectacular. Walking south, the low sun dazzled and it was disorientating. I could see little ahead of me, toward Morecambe Bay, and kept stopping to look north to the snow-clad fells, gullies etched by snow and dry-stone walls made visible. To the east, the Howgills showed their distinctive geology, smooth and regular forms in sunlight and shadow- so different from the Lake District Fells.
'A bonny day,' said a runner who stopped to catch his breath and take in the view. Yes, for sure.
It's impossible to catch the full glory of the day, either in word or image but, for a nature writer, that's the challenge. Here is the place I know best but no day is ever the same, the quality of light can take you by surprise, show a familiar scene afresh. Turning to head for home, walking north, I could see clearly now the sun was behind me- the fell illuminated November gold. The angle of the low sun and my elevation showed the Mushroom poised against the backdrop of Red Screes - bringing the northern fells much closer. Each rise and fall of the ridge changed the perspective. Those fells will be out of reach until some time in the New Year, due to a landslip caused by heavy rains which has closed Kirkstone Pass.
Here lies my way, toward the kissing-gate leading down off Scout Scar, but today there was a novelty about it. In this light bare ash trees seem possessed of a spirit invisible at other seasons. It's a fleeting perception.
Gradually, the skies grew cloudy with wonderful patterns of bright white cumulous and by mid-afternoon a gibbous moon shone in the east, its face mapped with lunar seas.
No stars that night as the rains returned.
The Mushroom Shelter is a viewpoint on Scout Scar, with a panorama of snow-clad fells on this last day in November. Recent weeks had been wet and dreary, the days growing shorter, so a brilliant Sunday brought forth walkers, runners and families with small children.
Views to the north were spectacular. Walking south, the low sun dazzled and it was disorientating. I could see little ahead of me, toward Morecambe Bay, and kept stopping to look north to the snow-clad fells, gullies etched by snow and dry-stone walls made visible. To the east, the Howgills showed their distinctive geology, smooth and regular forms in sunlight and shadow- so different from the Lake District Fells.
'A bonny day,' said a runner who stopped to catch his breath and take in the view. Yes, for sure.
It's impossible to catch the full glory of the day, either in word or image but, for a nature writer, that's the challenge. Here is the place I know best but no day is ever the same, the quality of light can take you by surprise, show a familiar scene afresh. Turning to head for home, walking north, I could see clearly now the sun was behind me- the fell illuminated November gold. The angle of the low sun and my elevation showed the Mushroom poised against the backdrop of Red Screes - bringing the northern fells much closer. Each rise and fall of the ridge changed the perspective. Those fells will be out of reach until some time in the New Year, due to a landslip caused by heavy rains which has closed Kirkstone Pass.
Here lies my way, toward the kissing-gate leading down off Scout Scar, but today there was a novelty about it. In this light bare ash trees seem possessed of a spirit invisible at other seasons. It's a fleeting perception.
Gradually, the skies grew cloudy with wonderful patterns of bright white cumulous and by mid-afternoon a gibbous moon shone in the east, its face mapped with lunar seas.
No stars that night as the rains returned.
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