September Travels

Still on holiday, and still plagued with less than brilliant weather, decided we might as well make the best of it and headed northwards to visit friends in the Lake District.

Started with a couple of nights in Chester - where we reasoned that at least there would be things to do if it stayed wet.


On our first afternoon / evening the weather was actually pretty good though, and we got to wander the walls in the sunshine, before revisiting some of our favourite pubs from our last visit.



The next day the weather was a little more mixed - did get quite wet at one point, but soon dried off.

Did some shopping, walked some more bits of the wall, and enjoyed a free falconry display in the Cathedral grounds (where the gyrfalcon being flown went off script chasing pigeons - although the falconer did eventually manage to entice it back!

Moved on, on a wet Sunday morning, to Milnthorpe in Cumbria to visit with friends (and belatedly celebrate another 50th birthday).  Arrived early afternoon, and after hellos and tea and stuff, decided that we would brave the weather  and go for a short walk in the Sizergh Castle grounds.

As it turned out it wasn't that 'short' - we were out for close to 3 hours - got a bit wet at the start, dried up around the middle, and took a short break at the Wheatsheaf Inn in Brigsteer for a pint.

The walk back to Sizergh took us up to St John's Helsington with its expansive views over the valley, before heading back, in the rain again.

We'd all got full waterproofs on, so the rain hadn't been that problematic - unfortunately one of the last gateways on the way back to the car park, was completely flooded to above boot level, so it was a bit squelchy getting back to the car.  (The boots were drying out with newspaper in them for the remainder of the visit!).

Had a very nice celebratory dinner out that night at the Black Labrador in Underbarrow - and a day pottering about Ambleside, etc.  Before saying our goodbyes, and making our way back to Wales.

Stopped off at Chirk Castle on our way home - hadn't been there for years, and had an enjoyable couple of hours or so wandering round the property and its gardens.

All in all a nice few days - despite the weather!