I'll be honest, I'm normally a fair weather hiker - for the simple reason that I rather enjoy the reward of the views from the top!
That said, there's undoubtedly something deeply enchanting about wandering through the mist. I touched on this when I wrote about the PR10 Levada do Furado in Madeira. Indeed, Madeira's wonderfully localised weather system makes it a great place to hike into the fog; the forest at Fanal is one of the most fascinating places I've ever visited.
Definitely not in Lakeland: exploring a wind-swept tree in the forest at Fanal, Madeira.
Binsey stands far apart in the north-western corner of the Lake District. It isn't very tall, and it is a straightforward and safe climb with no difficulties, but Binsey's solitude makes it a great viewpoint for all points of the compass. At least, it does on a clear day. If you climb it at the end of December into the low cloud, only your imagination can picture the "sweeping panorama" Wainwright describes in his guide.
Taking the most straightforward route from Binsey Lodge (a wide, gently-climbing path with about a mile in distance and 620 feet of ascent to the summit), there was plenty of opportunity to focus on what was visible, rather than dwell on sights unseen! Rather like Fanal's Lakeland little brother, there's an enchanted feel to a winter tree in mist, especially those pummelled sideways after decades of exposure to the wind on the open fells.
As the summit reveals itself, there's an Ordnance Survey trig column standing proudly next to a sizeable cairn, and well-used shelters. Although Binsey is "of no great height", it also stands exposed enough to make the shelters a welcome addition. The fell top is also an ancient tumulus (burial mound) although so many stones have been moved to make the shelters that I'm not sure I would have noticed had I not read it in the guides.
The final discovery at the summit on a day like this is a sense of resolve to return in better weather and admire the vista - something I am yet to do!
For more details on the route to Binsey (as well as some snaps of the fell in more amenable weather), check out Walk Lakes (who followed the same route that I did), Wainwright Routes (who describe the western approach from the A591) or the slightly longer excursion described by the Walking Englishman.
GETTING THERE: The route from Binsey Lodge requires a car or a sizeable detour on foot. It is possible to climb the fell from the hamlet of Bewaldeth, alighting the 554 Carlisle to Keswick bus at the stop on the A591. In winter, there are four buses in each direction Monday to Saturday and three on Sundays.
MORE ABOUT FANAL: check out this YouTube video showing Fanal in the mist and in the sunshine - what a difference the weather makes!
Date of walk: 28th December 2018.