Saturday 29 April 2017

A Wander with Ed and Gerda - Old Fell, West Fell and Sunny Bank

Ed and Gerda are over from Holland for two weeks, we are hoping to take them for a walk or two but our plan for Thursday was thwarted, sirst by the forecast and then Ed hurt his back! Instead we are having a gentle couple of hours today and then hopefully we will manage to fit something else in before they head back home


Their pack has extended this year, they now have 5 working collies! Today it is just Breeze's friend Donna Summer who is with us

Normal positions are taken up - Gerda and I marching our up front with Ed and Husband putting the world to rights a little way back. Breeze and Donna? Well obviously they are having fun all over the place.

We stop for a cheeky coffee just past the mines. It's hard work walking up hill when you live in Holland

Breeze and Donna share a boulder
Just a nice gentle couple of miles and pretty bracing at times too. With luck we will be able to find another shortish walk and a weather window sometime in the week ahead.

Sunday 23 April 2017

Pottering about on a Sunday

It's against the rules to walk on the fells at the weekend (according to Husband), but in a moment of weakness, he agreed that it was too good a day to miss this morning. We hadn't planned it, the forecast had been crap, but we decided to grab some lunch and head off out and see how the mood took us! I had a quick scan of the map before we left home for a bit of inspiration - we wanted somewhere where we were unlikely to meet many people.


It became very clear that we had found what we wanted. A deserted area which probably doesn't get used as a route normally. We are hoping it stays that way - this isn't one we are wanting to share with many folk!
Steep in a few places, wide open in others. The gorse adding to the beauty of the area. 

Old mine workings along the way

This really is a hidden gem

Spot the Spaniel





The view behind as we climb up out of the gill 



This little wren had just flown from a nest


Lots of posing



We stop for an early lunch before we get out onto an area with proper paths (and therefore possibly people!). Husband and Breeze practice for this years Gurning competitions - Husband wins!

That's better

Heading over the fell


Once again we are 'Off Piste' so we have another pause and enjoy the solitude

Then we are off again

Heading down to one of our regular local haunts - Roughton Gill Mines

Then it's the very familiar but equally lovely walk back along Dale Beck

One last pose before we get back to the car.

We had walked about 6.5 miles, seen hardly anyone and it's the weekend. We have also discovered a fabulous little spot to hide in silly season!!
We'd also had a pretty impressive wildlife day. All the usual array of birds at home first thing followed by a Roe doe as we drove through the forest, two Wrens, ravens, grouse, wheatear, meadow pipits, sand martins a dipper, our swallow of the summer and on the way back home a weasel. Things continued in the same vain when we got home - our first house martins returned early evening. Pretty good Sunday then :-)

Saturday 22 April 2017

Bowscale Tarn with Lynn

A chance to catch up with Lynn and for a change we have a decent afternoon of weather! Husband is at home watching rugby so it's just the girls and Buddy.

And we're off! Heading up the Bowscale lonning
Too much talking to take many photos! We had the tarn to ourselves for a while, so we sat on the usual rock and had a coffee
Then as we wander off the dogs are having a good old charge around at the far side. It's deeper over there, so we head round to try and find a spot deep enough for Buddy to get our of his depth

This side of the tarn is arguably more picturesque than the other
Mission accomplished - Buddy's had a swim

And so has Breeze!

Thursday 6 April 2017

Watchtree Nature Reserve

Another localish trip with Mum. Watchtree Nature reserve was set up on the site of the 2001 Foot and Mouth burial site. A horrible past but a nice way to have used such a godforsaken place.
We didn't have long - we had Fish and Chips and a beach visit for the dog to fit in too, but it's certainly a place I will visit again. Not sure about Husband. He struggled to get past the history of the place and as he was keen to point out at the time, we didn't see much that we don't see in our own garden! We are pretty well blessed with Birds at home to be fair

Tree Sparrows


Yellow Hammers

Tufted Ducks (don't recall seeing those on our pond!)

Reed Warbler

Teal (Also not seen at home!)

Coot - well we do have one or two bald friends

And a pair of greylag geese. OK, so we have had these in the garden, but only whilst I plucked them!
No photo's of the fish and chips or even the dog at the seaside, but needless to say we all enjoyed ourselves!

Tuesday 4 April 2017

Wordsworth's Daffodils


I like to send Mum regular photos so she can share them with Dad, As she is with us, it's a nice opportunity to get some with her in as well and Wordsworth's Daffs seem like a good idea. We had to be in Penrith for mundane appointments, so we just dropped down to t'other side of the A66 on our way home.
It's another lovely day

At one of the country's most beautiful spots
Even the air traffic are out to please today!

Monday 3 April 2017

Latrigg with Mum


Mum is with us for about a week and for once, the weather is playing ball. It's a while since she was on the summit of a fell and we think we have just the fell to suit her requirements. We parked at the top of Gale Road........
Breeze couldn't care which fell we are on


Skiddaw behind

Mum on top of Latrigg with Keswick and Derwentwater behind.

A nice couple of miles on a lovely bright morning. Just a shame there was a bit too much of a cool breeze (the windy type) to sit about enjoying the view.