Everyone arrived safely to the Christmas holiday despite the tricky driving conditions of ice on the roads (after rain had fallen the previous night onto frozen ground).

The Glenthorne car park was a scating rink - I've never seen it like that before, so as more hands arrived, we set to salting Glenthorne's paths and as much of the car park as possible.

Quantities of grit was carried up the road in plastic bags and in the back of Sue's car - a valiant effort which made all the difference!

Meanwhile, women were settling into their rooms, getting to know each other in the lounge or meeting old friends, consuming mince pies and mulled wine, and helping prepare the first evening's meal.

Dinner that night was relatively simple - soup followed by baked potatoes & salad with a range of toppings, finished off with a choice of 6 ice cream flavours!

We had a relatively quiet evening with lots of women heading off to bed early after their journeys, and others playing games in the lounge...

We woke to misty conditions on the tops, and tricky walking at all levels given the amount of ice that remained on the roads and paths.

Catherine & I took the Gentle & Low Intermediate walks around Grasmere & Rydal Water.

The original plan had been to make a longer Low Intermediate circuit around Loughrigg Fell leaving the two lakes for the Gentle group.

However, we took so long getting up Langdale Road to the start of our path that the plan was changed, then changed again as we found that the paths were as slick with ice as the roads!

The views below us were as impressive as usual but you definitely couldn't walk and look, you had to stop!. Grasmere from Loughrigg Terrace, and Rydal Water largely covered by ice...

We felt like adventurers as we cautiously made our way along the edges of the paths to get some grip!

The pace of both groups ended up being almost similar, and by lunch time we had only reached Rydal Cave!

Some of us ate our lunch here, while the Gentle group with Catherine continued on to Rydal church yard for theirs.

After a very welcome hot cup of chocolate or tea at Rydal Tea Room, we all made our way back along the Coffin Trail to Grasmere - only arriving back by about 3.30pm.

It had taken us 6 hours to do 5 miles - and even that felt like an achievement!

Marian's High Intermediate group had also changed their original plans, turning back from their Blea Rigg path due to the amount of ice, and instead making a similar circuit of Grasmere and Rydal Water.

Anita's Intermediate group had meantime made it up onto the ridge by taking huge care.

Frozen waterfalls, ice on the track, misty conditions...

They couldn't see much in the mist, but had a very snug lunch in the group shelter.

They took their return route down the ridge carefully, walking on the grass to each side of the path. They made it back with a great sense of achievement just as it started to get dark.

My great relief was that there had only been no accidents in any group. Carol had reported that there were a lot of people on the streets of Ambleside in plaster casts...

More games after dinner that night, and some women found the table tennis room and enjoyed a game of 'around the table'.

Today with the ice thawing, Marian's High Intermediate walk headed back to Blea Rigg for a successful attempt at the ascent.

They saw far more than had been possible the previous day, including a lovely misty view over Grasmere.

Anita's Intermediate walk walked around the lakes, then climbed to the top of Loughrigg Fell.

Several of the Gentle & Low Intermediate walkers took today off to go shopping in Ambleside before the holiday, so Catherine took a smaller combined group along the waterside path to the end of Rydal, then 'Under Loughrigg' to Ambleside.

Some women caught the bus back from Ambleside, while others walked back with Catherine through Rydal Hall park - a walk of low intermediate length.

Cake and biscuits, mince pies and hot cuppa's awaited the valiant walkers on their return. Carol and I had meantime been getting ahead of the game in the kitchen, and the evening meal preparations were virtually complete.

After dinner, anyone who hadn't yet helped with the washing up was introduced to Glenthorne's wonderful commercial dishwasher - and I think enjoyed themselves!

We then had a quiz having split into 5 or 6 teams. Vanessa had put it together from my quiz book.

Other games were taken up afterwards - Scrabble, Articulate, Jenga, and another game whose name I never did learn! Some women also went to the pub.

Christmas Day! Panatone for breakfast - as well as porridge, cereals, scrambled egg, fruit etc as usual. There was even some bacon for desperate meat eaters!

Catherine took a day off to nurse her poorly ankle (classic to turn an ankle in the dark when there was no more ice around!), so again there were only 3 walks today.

Some of us (Gentle & Low Intermediate) set of for Easedale Tarn, and enjoyed some rare sunshine as the mist thinned and blue sky appeared.

The views were stunning, with mist still filling Far Easedale and the most glorious light above.

By the time we reached the tarn the mist was returning, and after a break there the visibility had returned to 'normal'!

Undeterred, we set off around the tarn, had an exciting stream crossing where Libby, Sue's dog, had to be carried across, and bounced our way across the still frozen bogs along the far side of the tarn.

Marian's Intermediate walk had meantime headed for the Helm Crag, and enjoyed the same bright interlude just as they reach Helm Crag.

With mist in the valleys, they had stunning views across to Easedale on one side, and Fairfield and Helvellyn on the other.

The mist came and went as they proceeded along the ridge to Calf Crag, then back down Far Easedale to arrive back in time for tea.

Anita's High Intermediate walk was a version of the Fairfield Horseshoe.

They started out in the mist and cloud like the rest of us, but steadily emerged above it for some stunning views of the temperature inversion.

They climbed steeply to Stone Arthur, then on up to Great Rigg.

They enjoyed their period of sunshine above the mist before reaching true cloud on the top of Fairfield.

They returned with red faces from the cold wind they had encountered on the top - but also with a great sense of achievement.

Lots of activity in the kitchen as normal for Christmas dinner and lots of help as we made the salmon en croute, cooked the roasties and other vegetables, the nut roasts & sauces to go with both choices, and made a big fruit salad for anyone who didn't want Christmas pud!

Women had been making decorations for the tables, candles, crackers - the works!

We ate slightly later than normal as quite a few women wanted to go to the carol service at Grasmere Church. It was apparently very enjoyable.

The meal went down very well. There had been much industry producing stunning table decorations, and there were crackers and party hats, and holly from our walk decorated the Christmas puddings....

After dinner we each took out a present from the secret Santa pillow cases, and went around the circle saying what we had each received.

Later there was dancing in the conservatory, more table tennis, games, chatting...

Boxing Day was our last full walking day. Still no sun, but luckily no rain either despite the forecast.

Anita's High Intermediate walk became High Level when several women were determined to climb Helvellyn.

They took the steep route up from Thirlmere - a tough route that would allow them to accomplish the walk in daylight.

On the top the wind was fierce and cold, and they returned with glowing faces.

Nessie (Amanda's town living dog) had a challenging day on the fells coping with her coat in the wind!

Marian's Intermediate walk had meantime headed for the Langdale Pikes, taking the route up via Loft Crag, then descending over Martmoor to Stake Pass.

From here they descended into the massive U-shaped valley of Mickleden, and so back to the Old Dungeon Ghyll where they had parked.

Catherine's ankle was still swollen, so I took the largest Gentle & Low Intermediate group I have ever yet walked with to Elterwater!

We had a superb walk to Little Langdale that included Elterwater Quarry, Little Langdale Tarn, Cathedral Cave, Colwith Force (waterfall), and the new bridge over the Brathay.

This is always a beautiful walk even when there is cloud on the higher fells.

We celebrated our 6-7 mile circuit with a Boxing Day glass of mulled wine at the Britannia Inn!

Back at the ranch, there was more tea and cakes to consume, then lots helped in the kitchen to prepare the dinner or put the tables ready.

Later - besides more games ongoing - we were also treated to some beautiful music.

Last morning, and the dry weather had finally broke - we woke to heavy rain! Many women needed to get away after the clearing and packing up. Everyone helped, and we were ready by the time that the Glenthorne staff arrived.

Despite the weather, some women were still keen to get out walking.

Marian took a relatively small group up to Alcock Tarn. The conditions proved to be hard work - wind and heavy rain - and a walk which can sometimes be graded as Gentle became something more like High Intermediate!

We may not have had much sun on this holiday as on some previous Christmases, but we counted ourselves lucky that it hadn't rained like this every day!