Everyone arrived steadily at Glaramara Centre over the late afternoon - despite the recent snow and disruption further south.

Sara & Sue M also joined the holiday - exciting new guides working with WW this year.

It was misty and wet, but we could still see snow on the higher fells - looking magnificent. What would the weather be like tomorrow?

We settled in, ate a delicious dinner, relaxed chatting afterwards in the lounge, then most of us headed to bed early.

The cloud in the morning was no where near as low as forecast, and the spitting rain dried up not long after we started walking - which was great. It stayed dry for the rest of the day.

Marian & Sara's High Intermediate walk headed for a warm up walk along the High Spy ridge overlooking Borrowdale and Derwent Water.

As they climbed steadily up beside Tongue Gill they encountered fantastic ice falls near the old mine workings - time for a group photo said Marian!

Higher they reached the top of High Spy with the mist coming and going, but steadily clearing as they walked north along the ridge.

Fabulous views of Derwent Water, then actual sun on Cat Bells (though they were so excited by this they forgot to take a photo!)

Their return route was down the bridle path to the valley, stopping for tea in Grange, then back through Borrowdale's woods near the river Derwent.

They detoured briefly to Milligan Dalton's cave where an excentric Victorian outdoors man used to invite his friends to come camping and adventuring.

The Intermediate walk with me, Sue M, and Sue's dog Bonn, headed across the valley to Stonethwaite, then up the steep track to Dock Tarn.

The views above the trees were stunning with Greenup Edge in the distance all covered in snow.

Dock Tarn was partly iced over, and any boggy ground near the tarn was frozen solid.

It was great to shortcut over the bogs and not sink in!

Beyond the tarn we descended to Watendlath tarn, then down the valley beside Watendlath Beck.

At the far end we turned left to return beside the upper Lodore falls to the Derwent Valley.

By now, there was enough blue sky for several pairs of sailor's trousers, and Cat Bells was in sunshine across Derwent Water.

From here we walked back through Borrowdale's woods, headed for tea at Rossthwaite's Flock-In tearoom. Huge pint mugs of tea and delicious cakes - we practically all indulged!

Back at Glaramara we showered and relaxed, then chatted beside the fire in the lounge before another delicious dinner.

The staff were very friendly as usual, and it was nice to be the only group staying - we had the place to ourselves.

Lower cloud today, and a bit mizzelly as we set off well waterproofed.

Marian and Sue M took a higher walk up onto Green Gable via Sour Milk Gill and Gillercomb.

They had a great time even though it was wet, misty, view-less, and cold towards the top in the wind.

The shelters came out for lunch to produce an instant fug, then off along the track north towards Brandreth and finally to the Honister Pass.

From here, after a warm up in the Honister Slate Mine shop, they headed down 'the Old Honister Road' to High Doat, and so back to Glaramara Centre.

The rest of us had meanwhile walked up the Old Honister Road to the Pass - stopping for a brief warm up at the Slate Mine shop - then ever onwards into the mist towards, headed for Haystacks.

We climbed the old tramway path up past the mine, then the track across below Grey Knotts and Brandreth.

The shelters came out for an early lunch - and it was a relief to get out of the cold, and have a bite to eat in the snug.

We then descended towards Haystacks, but on reaching the Haystacks path we decided to turn towards Fleetwith Pike and our return route to the Pass.

The idea of views back in Borrowdale and a detour along the Allerdale Ramble to the tea room in Rosthwaite were suddenly very appealing!

Lots of games were played that evening - Scrabble and Jenga notably. It was a very convivial evening.

Today we were supposed to have the worst weather, and a gale force wind had been forecast.

Needless to say, we decided to walk at relatively low level and keep out of the wind!

The Intermediate group walked with me along the Allerdale Ramble via Castle Crag, then down to Grange, and on beside the Derwent Water shore to Nicol End opposite Keswick.

From here we caught the Keswick Launch across the lake to indulge in a little retail therapy before catching the bus home, keeping the total to 8 miles max.

The High Intermediate group with Marian and Sue stayed on the Allerdale Ramble as far as the end of Cat Bells, enjoying fine views over the lake when they stopped for lunch.

Since the weather had brightened and the views were improving all the time, most of the group decided to walk back through Borrowdale rather than continue on into Keswick.

They had a fabulous long walk which culminated in several cakes at the Flock-In tea room in Rosthwaite - all hugely deserved!

Our last delicious dinner at Glaramara was followed by more games of Scrabble, more Jenga, and lots of sitting round chatting by the fire.

Final day before travelling home, and the forecast was finally for sunshine and blue skies. Typical!

We offered two romps on Glaramara at different levels, but in the end, only the High Intermediate walkers were tempted (Marian's photos will follow).

The rest of us walked up the Seathwaite valley towards Stockley Bridge in glorious sunshine.

The fells were decked in their finest winter colours, with a little snow remaining on the higher tops.

We stopped for a break opposite Taylor Gill Force, then walked back for tea in Seatoller before our journeys home.

Despite the mizzle on the second day, the only real rain had fallen at night, and we felt we'd been very lucky with the weather.

We'd also felt very well looked after by the Glaramara staff - a great time was had by all!