We've just returned from a few days in the Lake District so apologies for lack of comments on your blogs - I am slowly catching up with your posts.
We left home mid-morning last Saturday and here
is Timothy on his first trip to the Lake District.
Normally on a good run we can reach RSPB Leighton Moss in two hours and Hawkshead in the Lake District in about three but the traffic was horrendous thanks to huge chunks of motorway being upgraded to the so-called "smart" motorway so there were a lot of traffic jams as well as traffic at a standstill near Preston where there had been an accident.
The Werthers and Chocolate Eclairs were soon demolished!
It took 3 hours to reach Lancaster services where we ended up stopping for lunch and eating sandwiches in the service station car park :(
I think this is the Ashton Memorial - a folly in Williamson Park near Lancaster.
Nearly there!
These days we always approach the South Eastern Lakes via the lovely Lyth Valley
Limestone country
The autumnal colours were lovely as we drove along.
We usually drive over Cartmel Fell and stop off at Gummers How viewing point where there are stunning views over Windermere. But somehow this time we managed to get lost - I won't tell you the comments that ensued concerning my map reading skills!
Just so you can see the view I have included a few photos from our last visit when I didn't get us lost! Taken with the Olympus dslr e-420.
We finally reached Esthwaite Water at about 3.30 p.m. It had been a long journey!
Esthwaite is the home of Beatrix Potter's Jeremy Fisher. Beatrix Potter for many years lived nearby at Hill Top, Near Sawrey. Esthwaite Water is one of the smaller lakes covering about 280 acres and is located between Windermere and Coniston. William Wordsworth knew the lake well and it is mentioned in several of his poems.
The bad news is that you now have to pay for this particular car park but the good news is that the lake has been used by nesting Ospreys. From research I gather there have been two pairs there on at least one occasion. They have certainly nested there since 2012 and may have been done so before that year as it appears the news was kept secret initially in order to protect the birds.
We lingered for a while although no doubt the Ospreys have now departed for warmer climes and then we drove and had a quick look round the picturesque town of Hawkshead. The car park was jammed full - it was at this stage I really did question the wisdom of visiting half-term week but we did find another car park which was cheaper and had plenty of places! Once upon a time this side of Windermere was relatively quiet.
Hawkshead has flourished since Norse times and belonged to Furness Abbey until the 12th century. It is a market town and many of the buildings date back to the 17th century. William Wordsworth lodged here with Ann Tyson when he attended the Old Grammar School which is well worth a visit. The Beatrix Potter Gallery, now owned by the National Trust with exhibits of Beatrix's illustrations which change yearly, is located in what was once the office of a local solicitor William Heelis who married Beatrix Potter in 1913.
Plants in Walls - I believe this is Maidenhair Spleenwort but please correct me if I am wrong.
This time we were stopping for the third time at Broomriggs an Arts and Craft House located on Colthouse Heights and overlooking Esthwaite Water. It is surrounded by 37 acres of formal, informal gardens and woods which you can explore.
Views from the living room bay window
This room was once the Reading Room of the original gentleman's residence and still contains the original oak panelling around the fireplace.
Views from the Terrace
*D Photos taken by D with the Canon SX50 bridge camera
Rest of photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 apart from the ones of Windermere which were taken in 2010 with the Olympus dslr e-420
