The Lake District
What a day it has been. Here I sit in the late afternoon sun, listening to the birds and looking out over the local recreation park and surrounding hills whilst intermittently writing this blog.
Although at times I would love to stop more, we know we cannot do more than we do in the day and I am so thankful to be able to sit and enjoy the phenomenal scenery without worrying about the road. It is also fantastic to learn about the areas we visit, the history surrounding them and the people who lived there, all this interspersed with dry humour.
No Niagara Falls, but nevertheless a lovely place to visit.
The forest was a most fascinating place. Not only was it a lush and beautiful area, but it had very interesting Cluty trees - not sure of spelling- which date back to the Celts, who believed by pushing cloth into the tree, a sick person would be healed. This practice changed from cloth to coins being placed in the tree. The trunks looked amazing, almost like scales on a fish!
The forest also had a wide variety of wild flowers, here below the White Stitchwort and some pretty wee primroses.
O
Our lunch stop was at the largest lake in the area, Windermere. Unfortunately, it is now overrun by tourists, even out of season, and holds no charm - at least not for me. I took a short cruise on the lake - pleasant enough, but no 'wow' feeling. It was good to hear that Beatrix Potter had been instrumental in the planting of miles of forest, with every species of British tree. She was evidently a huge conservationist. When she died, her properties were also given to the National Trust.
The best of the day was still to come! Rabbies tours usually try to take you on at least one rather adventurous trip, and ours was to Blea Tarn. This little tarn is on National Trust land, up in the hills, surrounded by mountains. The road there is extremely narrow and winding, with passing bays. Andy had never been there before, but handled it really well. The second picture in this blog was taken on that road.
Wow, it was gorgeous. Down by the lake we were treated to some wonderful reflections and more superb views. It was a really special place, certainly one of the highlights of this short tour.
Andy had one last secret place up his sleeve, the Langdale boulders with views to Britain's tallest mountain, Scafell, at 3,200feet above sea level. Not high compared toother mountains in Europe, but still very impressive and tricky to climb I believe.
Here Scafell with a wonderful dry stone wall in the foreground.
Our final stop of the day was at Grasmere, also with a lovely lake, but better known for its resident poets, Wordsworth and Coleridge. Surprisingly, despite being forced to read works by both of these gentlemen at school, I still felt very keen to learn more about them. The daffodil season has finished but instead of a 'field of yellow daffodils', there were carpets of bluebells and wild garlic. Not so sweet smelling, but certainly every bit as stunning!
,
We have seen so much today and yet still had plenty of time to 'stand and stare'. I imagine Andy, our driver, will be pleased to rest up now after a pretty hard day driving along narrow, often one- lane roads with dry stone walls on each side
Although at times I would love to stop more, we know we cannot do more than we do in the day and I am so thankful to be able to sit and enjoy the phenomenal scenery without worrying about the road. It is also fantastic to learn about the areas we visit, the history surrounding them and the people who lived there, all this interspersed with dry humour.
First stop today was only minutes outside Keswick, the Castlerigg Standing Stones. Not only are they still in fantastic condition, but the backdrop of mountains and valleys is stunning too. Apparently Andy's last tour saw nothing much of this area, so we felt so lucky to have such remarkable weather once again.
On then to a completely different landscape of forests and streams, to Aira Force ( when I first heard this I thought they said 'airforce' so I could see no link with waterfalls!). It was a very pretty forest walk.
No Niagara Falls, but nevertheless a lovely place to visit.
The forest was a most fascinating place. Not only was it a lush and beautiful area, but it had very interesting Cluty trees - not sure of spelling- which date back to the Celts, who believed by pushing cloth into the tree, a sick person would be healed. This practice changed from cloth to coins being placed in the tree. The trunks looked amazing, almost like scales on a fish!
The forest also had a wide variety of wild flowers, here below the White Stitchwort and some pretty wee primroses.
OThe place I loved most was a little glen at the end of the walk with such beautiful reflections in the little river bed.
Leaving the valleys behind us we wound our way up a narrow pass to a point where we could look down on Patterdale. Spectacular scenery which unfortunately my photo does not do justice to. Here we had our first meeting with the local and quite unique Herdwick sheep, saved from possible extinction by none other than Beatrix Potter, along with others. They are very special because the lambs are born black and then become white. They then become brown as they mature, finishing their lives grey! We saw all colours but sadly I do not have photos of them all.
Our lunch stop was at the largest lake in the area, Windermere. Unfortunately, it is now overrun by tourists, even out of season, and holds no charm - at least not for me. I took a short cruise on the lake - pleasant enough, but no 'wow' feeling. It was good to hear that Beatrix Potter had been instrumental in the planting of miles of forest, with every species of British tree. She was evidently a huge conservationist. When she died, her properties were also given to the National Trust.
The best of the day was still to come! Rabbies tours usually try to take you on at least one rather adventurous trip, and ours was to Blea Tarn. This little tarn is on National Trust land, up in the hills, surrounded by mountains. The road there is extremely narrow and winding, with passing bays. Andy had never been there before, but handled it really well. The second picture in this blog was taken on that road.
It was well worth the effort for this spectacular panorama taken from just above the tarn.
Wow, it was gorgeous. Down by the lake we were treated to some wonderful reflections and more superb views. It was a really special place, certainly one of the highlights of this short tour.
Andy had one last secret place up his sleeve, the Langdale boulders with views to Britain's tallest mountain, Scafell, at 3,200feet above sea level. Not high compared toother mountains in Europe, but still very impressive and tricky to climb I believe.
Here Scafell with a wonderful dry stone wall in the foreground.
The weather, the fresh spring growth on the trees, the lambs, the stone walls and the bird song really made this so special.
Our final stop of the day was at Grasmere, also with a lovely lake, but better known for its resident poets, Wordsworth and Coleridge. Surprisingly, despite being forced to read works by both of these gentlemen at school, I still felt very keen to learn more about them. The daffodil season has finished but instead of a 'field of yellow daffodils', there were carpets of bluebells and wild garlic. Not so sweet smelling, but certainly every bit as stunning!
,How fantastic to also find myself alone in Wordsworth Gardens with this little rabbit, who must have been ravenous, as he was oblivious to my presence as he munched away at the grass!
Can the day get better? Yes, it can. I met up for dinner with Zoe, my first ever Airbnb guest in NZ, and her boyfriend, Andrew. Zoe was with me for 5 days in Christchurch before leaving to continue her round- the- world trip. Such a brave and fantastic young lady. I was thrilled to become friends with her and to catch up with her once again here in the Lakes - hopefully not for the last time here in GB or in NZ!
Can the day get better? Yes, it can. I met up for dinner with Zoe, my first ever Airbnb guest in NZ, and her boyfriend, Andrew. Zoe was with me for 5 days in Christchurch before leaving to continue her round- the- world trip. Such a brave and fantastic young lady. I was thrilled to become friends with her and to catch up with her once again here in the Lakes - hopefully not for the last time here in GB or in NZ!
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