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Lake District Weather & Information
Planning a climbing day out in the Lakes can be a frustrating (not to mention money-wasting) experience if you fail to "sync" with the weather. Here are some of the best sources of information.
Route Reports: Climbing reports submitted by climbers - small pinches of salt required
The Winter Forum has some useful stuff, and quite a few reports.
A flurry of new routes reports on the FRCC website should give you an idea of conditions..
Lakes based winter climbing star has his own blog.
Not exactly climbing reports, but Ann goes for a walk in the Lakes most days and takes photoss which then appear on her website Today's Photos page - very useful to see what things are looking like.
Tony has a similar site.
As do the Hileys at Loweswater.
... And Andrew Leaney's Lakeland Fells site.
For more winter climbs sites see our Scottish Winter Conditions page.
Weather Forecasts: Large pinches of salt required
24 hour forecast - ring 0870 0550575 at 6p/minute, or click the link for free.
Useful data from a dedicated local fell-walker.
Five day regional forecasts and lots more.
Five day regional forecasts and 30 Day Outlook.
Was On Line Weather. Four day regional forecasts. Includes Mountain Weather Forecasts for relevant altitudes (NB these vary according to area).
Useful long range national forecasts (and annoying pop-up windows!)
Three day regional forecasts.
The Mountain Weather Information Service (aka Geoff Monk) gives detailed forecasts three day forecasts for mountain areas in PDF format - generally accurate - here is the Lake District Forecast.
The European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts is has proved spookily accurate over recent years. To get to predicted synoptic charts go to Deterministic Forecast, click on the coloured chart, and then select one of the two links on the left under Parameters.
Long term predictions.
Three day snow forecasts for the UK and elsewhere - more if you sign up.
For Scotland only - but very useful if you are heading north (though perhaps more predictable than the weather!).
Webcams: See what's what!
A view of the Castle, but handy for conditions in the Solway area.
Ullswater Lake, looking towards Place Fell.
Keswick Ski Club have a camera on their run on the east flank of Raise, just north of Helvellyn.
Courtesy of George Fishers but beware - what happens on Skiddaw does not necessarily mean the same happens in Borrowdale!
Looking south over Derwentwater from the Highfield Restaurant.
Langstrath, Borrowdale from the Langstrath Hotel.
Glaramara and Great End from the Glaramara Adventure Centre, Seatoller, Borrowdale.
Bassenthwaite Looking up Bassenthwaite towards Keswick from Armathwaite Hall.
Great Gable from Wasdale.
Pillar Mountain and Mosedale as seen from Wasdale Head.
A view up Ennerdale towards Pillar from Gillerthwaite provided by Wild Ennerdale.
View from Muncaster Castle, Eskdale.
Scafell from Eskdale - unfortunately only updated once a day.
Scafell Pike from Wasdale, looking straight up Brown Tongue to Pikes Crag.
Buckbarrow from Nether Wasdale - shows the crags well.
Eskdale A view of Scafell from Eskdale.
Langdale A view of Pavey Ark from the Stickle Barn .
Coniston The Old Man of Coniston, from the town.
Based at Miller Howe.
Other Useful Sites:
The Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association is the umbrella body for the 13 mountain rescue teams in Cumbria (UK), and gives links to all those with websites. The Wasdale MRT site has useful information on the state of Lord's Rake.
The Fell & Rock Climbing Club of the English Lake District produces a full set of Climbing Guidebooks for the Lakes. Its website features information on Bird Restrictions and Recent Developments (New Routes) and it also has a New Routes bulletin board.
Carlisle based climbing club (North Cumbria).
Penrith based climbing club (North Lakes).
Keswick based climbing club (North Lakes).
The local British Mountaineering Council Area Committee website.
Lake District Bouldering
The Lake District National Park Authority website is a fund of useful information...
.. as is the Cumbria Tourist Board website.
Have you found a site not listed here that gives good Lake District climbing information? If so please let us know about it - email us at info@needlesports.com - thankyou!

 

Tourist: "Doesn't it ever do anything but rain here in the Lake District?"
Local: "Aye......... Sometimes it snaws."
Unknown


And sometimes you get it just right:-
Steve Stout and Stephen Reid on pitch 2 of Remembrance (HVS 4b, 5a, 4b),
Gimmer Crag, Langdale, with Bowfell in the background (photo: Steve Ashton)

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