Back to the Lakes

Off to visit friends in the Lake District for a few days - it's been a while (pre-pandemic!) since we were last in the area, and it was lovely to be back, and catch up with people. 

Also took the opportunity for some Ikea van shopping on the way 😊 

First evening:

walk and sunset

Had a couple of days around the Southern Lakes area - which we are less familiar with.  

A day out visiting RSPB Leighton Moss took us for a wander and a spot of bird watching, although we may have spent longer watching a mini-digger trying to extract another mini-digger from a section of the mud flats they were obviously working on!

We had a lovely sunny Saturday, starting with our hosts doing the Windermere Parkrun - while we mooched around the lake, watching some rather extreme paddleboarding!

Moved on to Kirby Lonsdale, where I had the best ice cream from a local 'artisan' shop The Milking Parlour . . .

Biscoff Cheesecake ice cream in a waffle cone lined with melted milk chocolate 😋

Visited a couple of other places in the area, had a picnic, stopped for a pint, and just had a lovely day!

All in all a great break - good friends, excellent food, beautiful scenery, and some actual sunshine  🌞

Silver Wedding Weekend

Five years on, and it was up to the Lake District again, to meet up with some old schoolfriends - this time for the Silver Wedding 'Do'!



Lots and Lots and Lots of Cake - and some fun activities too . . .


There was time for a wander round Kendal while we were there - think we spotted an otter in the river - and a day trip out and over to Keswick, with windsurfers on the lake, and ever more tourist shops and cafes.



Then it was home via Oswestry, and the British Ironworks Centre.

Stopped for tea and cake, and a tour of the very impressive Sculpture Park, although I think my favourite was the dragon in the car park  . . .




A bit of a packed weekend, but lovely to see everyone - the sun even shone on us some of the time - might stay away from cake for a bit though :)

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!

A Step Too Far?

After a week or so at home, finally took the holiday on the road - headed up to my old stomping grounds in the Lake District, where we caught up with a friend from my YHA days, and took a bit of a walk . . .

We set off from Keswick on one of the hottest, most humid days of the year, to climb Walla Crag - and somewhere along the way the decision was taken to detour to Castlerigg Stone Circle (which mis-reading a signpost we thought was only half a mile away - ha ha!).

We then had to retrace our steps, before heading up Walla Crag itself - it isn't a long walk, but quite steep, and in the heat I found it rather hard going (Martin of course scampered up like the eponymous mountain goat!).  At least there were some good, if rather misty, views from the top!

From there it was down to Ashness Bridge.  By which time, in the heat, and given my state of limited fitness, I was flagging a bit.

The cold water was just too tempting, and I soon had my boots and socks off - absolute bliss!

Had to get going again though, and from there made it to Shepherd's Caff in Borrowdale for a much needed drink and an ice lolly (couldn't face a cake), before being persuaded to continue the trek round the lake.

It was probably a mistake - by the time we got back to Keswick my step counter was showing over 35,000 steps and boy could I tell.  Martin was in a much better way but being driven mad by a squeaky boot.  So while I staggered off to the Pheasant Inn to bag a table, he went further into town to change his boots!

Refreshed with cider, and a very tasty dinner of beef pie and chips, was able to make it back to the B&B in relatively more comfort (even stopping to check out the flood damage at Keswick YHA along the way).

A good day in the end - need to get myself a bit fitter before tackling anything like this again though:

North to Scotland

Onwards to Scotland by way of the Lake District . . .

Had a couple of days in my old stomping ground of Keswick - arrived in beautiful sunshine, and had a good wander round the town and down to Friar's Crag.  Did find that the place had gotten even more touristy - when I first worked there it was a proper town, now it's all cafes, and kit / gift shops.

At least Buttermere hadn't changed that much - had a glorious day walking round the lake, and sitting in the sun outside The Fish.

From there it was on up to Scotland - first stop Kirkcudbright where we spent a couple of nights - nice enough little town, good fish and chips, and some interesting characters in the local pub.

Was particularly taken by their war memorial - can just imagine their chap cuddling up with the similarly unclothed lady that graces the Aberystwyth memorial!

From Kircudbright had trips out to Logan Botanic Gardens (well worth a visit), and the nearby Logan Fish Pool (charming but a tad expensive).

Finished our day out with a walk along Luce Bay in the sunshine (fantastic expanse of beach, although the peace was shattered occasionally by the MoD blowing things up somewhere inland!).

Further north then to Ayr, stopping at Culzean Castle (National Trust for Scotland, and the main reason for our trip, since we'd visited briefly years ago and had always promised ourselves a return visit).

Had a lovely day walking the grounds, gardens, and beach - the sun even came out and it turned into a really nice day.

Returned the next day (in the rain) to go round the Castle interior - and then when the weather cleared up more of the grounds.



On the way back to Ayr tried out the 'Electric Brae' (one of those optical illusion roads where cars appear to roll uphill), and called in at the ruins of Dunure Castle.

Didn't see that much of Ayr itself mind you - seemed ok - found a nice bar, and an excellent curry house! 

Headed back south after that - called in at Grasmere (which out-touristed Keswick by a country mile), before settling in for a couple of nights in Kendal.  Met up with some old friends, walking the limestone pavement at Holme Park Fell, having a burger by Kirby Lonsdales' Devil's Bridge, and visiting 'Sheepfest' in Sedbergh.















All in all, a lovely break - time to go home now . . .

Lakeside

Couple of days in the Lake District this weekend, catching up with old schoolfriends.

First stop Sizergh Castle in the (very hot) sunshine - the gardens were looking lovely - before moving on to Milnthorpe to meet up with everybody.

Barbecue on the beach at Silverdale that evening - good to catch up with folk, and in such a lovely location.  All those years living in the Lakes and I never made it to this bit of coast!

 
Great sunset too:

Next day, sun still shining (although not quite as hot) and we headed for Windermere and a visit to Wray Castle.

Although it's been National Trust since 1929 they've only just opened it to the public.  Lovely building, in a fantastic setting, although it doesn't have quite as much 'history' as most NT properties.



Had a bit of a walk and a picnic by the lake as well, before returning to Milnthorpe for a very nice dinner in a local restaurant, and to toast our hosts' 20th Wedding Anniversary (how the time flies).

A good weekend.

Lake Break

End of June holidays and we've had a few days away in the Lake District - saw some old friends, and actually did a fair bit of walking (as well as shopping, eating and drinking of course!).

Started with an evening walk alongside the River Kent out to the Strickland Arms at Sizergh - nice walk, although a bit overgrown in places, and a fantastic meal in good company.




Followed this up the next day with a rather damp walk from Staveley to Potter Tarn - clouds were low but it was still a good walk.


Spotted another butterfly (or is at a moth?) along the way, again not sure what it is (ideas anyone??):

After a slightly wetter day off the fells (walking round the shops!) got the boots back on and headed down Borrowdale for the walk up to Watendlath.

We ate flapjack in the cafe, the midges ate us, and we watched the local bird population pick up the crumbs:

For our final walk of the holiday we tackled something a little more ambitious, and ascended Skiddaw - must admit it was something of a slog (for me at least), but the views were fantastic (unfortunately it was also extremely cold at the top, so we weren't inclined to linger).


Will have to keep up the momentum now we are back in Wales, although we're currently back in hedge-cutting mode . . .

Update:  I am reliably informed that it was actually a moth - a Brimstone Moth in fact (must be something to do with the sulphury colourations!).

Posts that Didn't Happen 1: July by the Lake

Time to play catch-up with some posts that didn't quite make it.

Had a few days away in July in the Lakes, meeting up with old friends, and buying lots of walking kit. Even managed a couple of walks - including the circuit round Derwentwater - although maybe it was a bit hot that day for some people: