This holiday based at Glaramara in Borrowdale was blessed with the most wonderful frosty, sunny weather.

However WW guides were in short supply over the half term when Marian sprained her ankle before the holiday.

As a result, while Yvonne was here throughout the holiday, Marian had to be replaced by Polly on the first day's walk, and by Diana for the rest of the holiday.

What a treat to be greeted by such glorious views! Everyone arrived and settled in, and spent the first evening getting to know each other.

Polly arrived early in the morning in time for breakfast, and she and Yvonne planned fairly easy-going warm-up walks for the first day.

Polly took the higher intermediate walk to Dock Tarn - a lovely deserted tarn high in the fells across the valley.

After a steep 'up' through oak woodland they emerged with views across to Eagle Crag and back to Borrowdale.

From here they walked through humps and bumps, past waterfalls and over frozen ground to Dock Tarn.

A break here beside the iced over lake was followed by glorious views into the Watendlath Valley and the descent to Watendlath Tarn.

Watendlath Tarn was also frozen, but the tea room was open - and had to be taken advantage of!

Then it was down the valley beside pretty Watendlath Beck - the waterlevel was low with the tarn frozen - and they crossed at the ford to reach the path to Lodore Falls.

After the falls they crossed meadows to reach the River Derwent - which flowed like silk giving superb reflections of the winter trees on its banks.

On over the board walk and small paths to Grange for more tea, then finally they walked back beside the river to Glaramara.

Yvonne had meantime taken a lower Intermediate walk to Castle Crag - a great introduction to Borrowdale.

Castle Crag is the small but steep sided fell that guards the gates of Borrowdale, and there are remains of an iron age fort on its summit with superb views over Borrowdale and on towards Derwent Water.

After scaling the steep path to the summit they continued along the Allerdale Ramble to Grange through Borrowdale's woods and beside the River Derwent.

Tea in Grange of course!

Polly could only stay for one day, so this morning I drove from Manchester Airport (and the XC skiing/Snowshoe holiday) to join the group for the last few days.

What superb winter weather for exploring the Borrowdale fells! Yvonne took the High Intermediate walk and I took the Intermediate walk.

Both walks today started out in the same direction - walking at different paces up to the Allerdale Ramble - a balcony path along the western side of Borrowdale.

We headed towards Castle Crag then took the path up the Tongue Gill gully towards Dale Head Tarn.

At the top of the gulley we turned north towards High Spy, ascending more gently over grass to the distinctive cairn on its summit from where we had 360 degree views to die for!

Close at hand to the west lay the mighty bulk of Dale Head with the Hindscath ridge descending northwards into Newlands Valley - beyond which lay all the heather-covered Grasmoor fells.

To the East we could see the Helvellyn Range, while to the north lay Blencathra and Skiddaw.

South lay the central fells and we could see Scafell Pike, Scafell, Great Gable, Bow Fell...

By the time the Intermediate walk arrived Yvonne's group had moved on. Needless to say, we stopped here for lunch - and there was hardly a breath of wind even at this height.

From here we sauntered over High Spy and onto Maiden Moor, taking in the views, prolonging the moment before we would had to descend.

When we thought we'd seen it all, Derwent Water came into view - the water absolutely still in the calm air.

Ahead of us lay Cat Bells - which also had to be climbed for it's excellent views of Derwent Water and Newlands Valley to the west.

From here Yvonne and the High Intermediate walkers had descended northwards to pick up the lake shore path - while we took the path down from the saddle to walk back along the lane to Grange.

Two hardly souls walked back through Borrowdale's woods to Glaramara Centre while the rest of us took the bus up the valley.

Later, after a delicious dinner (and the most fabulous home-made meringues with fruit for dessert) we sat around chatting in front of the log fire.

Another blue sky day after a frosty start!

After breakfast Yvonne took the High Intermediate walk up the Seathwaite Valley to the start of the Sour Milk Gill path.

They ascended steeply beside the waterfall to Gillercombe - a hanging valley that would take them towards Green Gable.

Up up up at the end of Gillercombe, then they reached the saddle with fabulous views back towards Borrowdale and across to Great End and the Scafell.

More up snaking between the rocks brought them to the last ascent onto Green Gable.

From here they could see all of Ennerdale spread out below, with the majestic fells of Pillar and Kirk Fell in view - as well as the Buttermere fells.

After a break in the sun on the top, there was talk to climbing Great Gable next door, but not everyone was keen, so instead they headed back via lower Brandreth.

Their return route brought them in sight of more Buttermere Fells and the end of Buttermere, and Crummock Water.

Finally, then descended to Honister pass, and walked back down the Old Honister Road - an old miner's track to the valley. A fab day!

I had meantime taken the Intermediate walk to Haystacks - ascending to Honister Pass via the Old Honister Road - then climbing the old tramway to the saddle between Grey Knotts and Fleetwith Pike.

Here we took a break before skirting below Brandreth then descending to the Haystacks path with all of Buttermere and Ennerdale spread out before us.

The views over the two valleys were so clear they looked almost unreal.

Now we turned toward Haystacks, with stunning glimpses into the Buttermere Valley from time to time.

We passed Black Tarn which was all iced over, then negotiated an icy section of path which lay in shadow.

We emerged at the Innominate Tarn - where Wainwright's ashes are scattered, and from here we had superb views back to Great Gable and Green Gable.

Continuing on, we reached the bumpy top of Haystacks, and found a sheltered spot with a lovely view for lunch.

It was hard to drag ourselves away. However, after a group photo by one of the cairns, we reluctantly headed back past the tarns and across the beck to our returning quarry path.

A break in the warm sun on our way back - was heaven!

At Honister pass some stopped for tea while others continued on down the Old Honister Road with golden afternoon sun shining on the fells ahead of us - Borrowdale's fells with Helvellyn beyond.

Before dinner, some women headed to the pub in Rosthwaite for a 'swift half' while the rest of us chatted in front of the fire in the lounge.

After dinner we had a quiz before tired women headed to bed relatively early!

Last day (photos coming soon), and some women with long journeys started home after breakfast. Yvonne took a half-day walk to Styhead Tarn (while I headed back to the WW office).

The sky was cloudier but it stayed dry as Yvonne took the last walk up the Seathwaite valley to the old packhorse bridge, then turned up the hillside towards Styhead Tarn, following the beck for the last stretch.

This tarn lies at the confluence of several mountain routes - and lies between the Gables, Great End and the Scafells. It is also a lovely tarn in its own right.

From here they returned the way they had come down a good stepped path... time for goodbyes before journeys home.