Colne Valley Beagles and other things of interest.: A LAKE DISTRICT TRIP

Another bit of time spent in Cumbria. It was Cumberland when I first used to go. So a few images. Actually I have taken too many for one post so I have two sets and this is the first set, hence ‘part one’. They are a bit rambling as that was the nature of the visit.

Hawkshead is a touristy spot with coaches of Orientals at regular intervals. There is a large Hawkshead shop which is the name of the retailer. There are other small ones but it is a pretty place and they like their flowers there. A big car park there collecting money.

Parking meters abound in the Lakes. See a space in some woodland and there will be a meter in it. Just as an aside we went to Keswick one day. The thought occurred to me, as a precautionary measure before setting off back in the car, to use the public toilet just off the main pedestrianised centre. I never thought I would see the day when it would cost me eight shillings! Eight shillings in old money to go and stand against a wall! Which is 40 pence for those unfamiliar with old money and the concept of spending a penny to use a toilet. I resisted the temptation. In Hawkshead there are some good public 'facilities' opposite the Hawkshead shop if you want to spend money. If you don’t, then visit the Hawkshead shop and use the one to the side of the café after you have mingled a bit.

Rather tired looking saw.

Ambleside. It occurred to me that Ambleside is as good as anywhere to use as a base for visiting the Lakes as it in the centre of roads for all directions and nowhere of interest is very far. I kept seeing this chap as he patiently waited for his lady who was absorbed in various shops.

Everyone photographs this micro 17^th Century Bridge House over Stock Beck belonging to the National Trust. It is Ambleside’s icon I think

Not everyone notices the waterwheel across the track from it. Don’t know if it runs. Looks significantly ‘restored’.

Oriental visitors seem to like the Lakes
Copyright image by David Swanbury

Ambleside Pier

It is a very long time since I heard the expression ‘Collywobbles’ and think I last heard it from my parents to refer to an upset stomach. Anyway fancy signwriting.

Who on earth is going to walk about with this ridiculous bit of kit. Or try to, as it doesn’t look very sensible with the likelihood of the dog wandering about pulling it into people’s legs never mind the owner’s. Seen in the enormous Hayes Garden World in Ambleside. A good spot for some browsing time inside in wet weather as there is a hugely diverse range of stock and a big café. Oh! And with reference to the earlier comments, some free 'facilities', but they are located about as far away as you can get so anticipate your need! In fact just behind this dog brolly display.

Tilberthwaite Glen is a fine place to rest and recuperate and picnic or use as a base for walking etc. There is a sheep fold there with this ‘artwork’ in the centre of each of the four walls. The fold doesn’t look used as it is full of bracken, but may well be at some time I suppose. The artwork is that of someone called Andy Goldsworthy. There is a wide rocky watercourse passing under the road from up the fells and while we were there having a picnic a large party of female ‘stream’ walkers’ returned from on high somewhere and began peeling off their neoprene dry suits. I quite envied the chap who was the instructor whose van was parked next to us.

Another restful place is Silcroft on the west coast, with a large free parking area (and 'facilities') and with a seaward distant horizon of a massive windfarm. When the tide is out there is a vast expanse of a lovely, virtually deserted, flat beach to use, as long as you can negotiate the foreshore of large round stones diminishing to crunchy pebbles. Copyright image by David Swanbury

I like Windermere, the lake area which is adjacent to Bowness, whereas Windermere the place is about a mile and a half away. It is a good place to sit to watch the world go by and a fair bit of the world seems to visit there. Copyright image by David Swanbury

There is a wide assortment of trip boats and when I was there huge queues were waiting, especially for the larger old boats, but then they need a long queue to fill each one.

Referred to as ‘steamers’ Swan and Tern sail graciously around England’s largest lake – an extract – ‘The M.V Tern was built by Forrest & Son, Wyvenhoe, Essex in 1891, as a steam powered yacht. This was converted to diesel power in 1956. The Tern is 145ft in length and weighs 121 tonnes. On board it is manned by a crew of 4 and can reach a speed of 10 knots with its 2 x 6 cylinder Cummins diesel engines, 2 x auxiliary generators and bow thruster.’

“The Teal has three decks and at full capacity can hold 533 passengers. The ship is also wheelchair accessible.

Passenger facilities include a refreshment bar and licensed bar, promenade deck, view stations, centrally heated saloons and toilets. All facilities excluding toilets and licensed bar are wheelchair accessible on this boat.

This ship was built in 1936 by Vickers of Barrow. The sections of boat were transported by rail to Lakeside and assembled. The M.V. Swan is 142ft long weighing 251 Tonnes. On board it is manned by a crew of seven and can reach a speed of 10 knots with its 2 x 6 cylinder Kelvin diesel engines and 2 x auxiliary generators.”
Copyright image by David Swanbury

A rare moment of quiet reflection by the busy waterfront of Winderemere at Bowness. Copyright image by David Swanbury

Colourful Japanese ladies promenading

Don’t step back!

Selfie sticks were much in evidence.

It looks like ‘kick a pigeon’ but it is not. Well, not quite!

Coniston Old Man. The blue sky illustrates the one hot day, 19^th July, when the newspapers were warning of the consequences of extreme heat, on the warmest day of the year so far, to those old and infirm and those not acclimatized to this phenomenon. I think my car recorded around 29C in this area.

For some, the lake provided a relief even in a wet (dry) suit to keep out the icy chill. Copyright image by David Swanbury

Sharon Holmes is a professional ‘dry stone waller’ who moved from Holmfirth area to the Lakes and now produces these small works of art that are a reflection of her practical expertise. There are at least two shops in Ambleside specializing in stone craft where her works are displayed. Unfortunately the two shops are not permanently manned as the owner’s stone workshop is a couple of minutes away and he is located there. But he will turn up like lightning if requested or one can visit the workshop. The stone of this little display is from the Holmfirth area of the Pennines whereas the rest appear to be all Lakeland slate.

Just a few collectables in the window of one shop by Sharon Holmes.

A bit of Ambleside's artistic waste pipe plumbing.

Chips with fingers, not chopsticks.

Have a guess at his nationality!

On a trip to Ravenglass and the coast one has to go over Wrynose and Hardknott pass. Hardknott is the steeper at 1in3 somewhere. The view to the Langdale valley has never been clear when I have gone over but this is looking back from the top of Wrynose. The road runs along the hillside on the left then develops into a few twisty steep turns to the top and being only a single track road, if there is oncoming traffic, someone gives way into the small passing places at the side; a feature of many of the Lake District’s narrow roads.

Not far beyond Hardknott in the Eskdale Valley is the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway at Dalegarth. It is an enjoyable experience to park there and take the 40 minute trip through the lovely countryside to Ravenglass on one of the regular running trains. Link to R&ER site

Dalegarth station.

Tiny compartments; and dogs are welcome although this one forgot to pay but was allowed to travel free where the guard kept his bag at the front of a carriage. In fact it is worth noting that most establishments in the Lakes allow dogs inside unlike almost everywhere else.

Driver and fireman combined waiting for the whistle.

Approaching Muncaster Mill station.

Muncaster Mill was a water powered corn mill which is now a private residence although presumably has still got some of the original features hidden away. It is the last stop on the line before Ravenglass and one can signal the train to stop in the same way as a bus by putting out one’s arm.

On the turntable at Ravenglass. On the front of the estuary there is a fine café at Rosegarth Guest House where one can sit and relax and replenish before returning on another train The following link also shows some nice arty scenic shots. Link to Rosegarth Guest House

On the last day we called at Pooley Bridge at the head of Ullswater. Only the bikes interested me and they were not my type but were works of art in chrome. The 300 year old original bridge collapsed during the torrential rain and subsequent flooding caused by storm Desmond and there is now a temporary metal one. Not sure why it is such a popular place for tourists.

Father, son (you can't see his pink hair at one side) and dog await the significant other who is shopping and who all retain their attachment to a particular identity.

The plan was to visit Dalemain House. Dalemain House link Having driven up the long drive to the extensive and totally deserted parking area, we discovered it does not open to the public on Fridays and Saturdays. So we picnicked in the car park and had a look at the fallow deer in the deer park. Copyright image by David Swanbury