The snowy wastes.

 It wasn't until later in the day when I was able to get out with the dogs for a decent walk and it looked promising for a good bit of light towards the end of the day. I headed off up to West Plantation and a track that leads up to Gilmonby Moor. The snow was still fresh and deep with no signs of previous visitors. During the day the sun had been quite warm and this had thawed some of the snow. The unusual thing was that the loose snow had thawed quicker than and that had even been slightly compacted so as I walked I could see the tracks of birds and small aminals and their marks were standing proud of the surrounding snow.

Grouse Tracks.

The low evening sun cast shadows from the tracks....very odd. As we progressed onwards the gate to the morr was so deep in snow drift that instead of opening it we just stepped over it. Now out on to the open moor the going was very tough, at least a foot of fresh snow, in places solid enough to take my weight but the next step down into the depths, hard work. It seemed like ages before we reached the lunch hut which sits alone on the moor. Today it looked not unlike Scotts Hut with the low sun and whiteness.

The Lunch hut.

There was quite a stong wind in the cold air and with the sun disappearing fast it was time to re-trace my steps..yet more hard work but at least this time I was able to use the footsteps in the snow that I had made previously.

The last of the sun.

Soon we were back in the plantation and it was just about dark as we reached home. Well worth the effort to see this sort of scenery and light.