It was a beautiful morning as we headed out of Mungrisdale village

My route today would take to the left of The Tongue, the fell in the centre of this photo

and up onto Bannerdale Crags

The path on the lower part of the walk were covered in sheet ice, but most of could be avoided along the edge of the paths

My ascent path up onto Bannerdale Crags

Looking across to the east ridge on Bannerdale Crags

This was going to be both Badger's and Cleo's first winter walk on the fells

They both loved the snow

The view back down my ascent path

and across Bannerdale with Atkinson Pike just starting to appear behind Bannerdale Crags

Watch out here comes Badger, he really loved playing in the snow

Taking a breather

The view that greeted me at the top of the climb, well worth on a day like today

The snow was really deep along the edge of the ridge, probably due to drifting?

Skiddaw looked amazing blanketed in all that snow

Badger coming down the slope at full speed, he wasn't very good at stopping though, he ended up rolling in the snow in a big heap!

We had our lunch stop at the wind shelter on the summit of Bowscale Fell

The vista of the northern fells from Bowscale Fell

Looking east towards the distant snow covered Pennine fells as I made my way over to Bannerdale Crags

This section was probably the hardest due to the deep soft snow, in places I was sinking in up to my knees

Looking back at Bowscale Fell

and the view down into Bannerdale

Souther Fell from the summit of Bannerdale Crags

and Blencathra from the same spot

Heading towards the col between Blencathra and Bannerdale crags

Looking across the valley at Sharp Edge

and the wider angle view

The ridge leading up to Atkinson Pike, sadly not my way today

I was heading back down into Bannerdale

Back down onto the old mine track, just the short walk back to Mungrisdale village and may be a quick pint at The Mill Inn?