Colne Valley Beagles and other things of interest.: July 2019

Some images from a recent trip to the Lake District in July.

There is a magnificent unspoilt beach on the west coast towards the south with a glimpse of the Isle of Man on the horizon as well as stacks of distant windmills. I hope the local authority doesn't despoil this area with its natural environment by installing parking charges and other 'amenities'. There is an adequate small old toilet block and a small farm run cafe and the rest is nature.

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Going for a swim.

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Tilberthwaite near Coniston is a lovely dead-end valley with gentle walks and rough trails etc. Another gem.

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Coniston Water on a dull day with a forecast of rain. There is a campsite alongside at Coniston Hall Farm where the Coniston Country Fair was being held. COUNTRY FAIR WEBSITE LINK

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There were 'family' events in the main ring mainly focussed on children.

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A side ring had terrier judging and the whole site was surrounded by trade stands and a refreshment tent. The forecast rain held off too.

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Looks like the top dog owner is about to commiserate.

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Black Combe beagles.

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Representatives of two packs of beagles being judged; nearest the Bleasdale and beyond the Black Combe. In the background is Coniston Old Man that the fell runners would be running up.

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Eventually the Black Combe came out on top.

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Fell foxhounds from the Lake District packs being judged.

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Keeper's Tweed always holds it shape, looks smart and lasts forever.

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The Judge - really a beagle man I was told.

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The usual fell stick competition.

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I think she has been pumping iron.

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Fell runners setting off. Around 30 were off to tackle six miles and the 2,400 feet of elevation to the top of The Old Man. LINK TO DETAILS

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Coniston Hall is an odd looking spot and Wiki says it is owned by the National Trust. WIKI LINK

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Bowness is on the edge of Windermere while Windermere the place is some distance away just to be confusing. This edge of Windermere had a very oriental flavour. I don't know if that is a brolly or a parasol. She looked elegant but it was neither sunny nor wet.

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The feathered friends must be the most well fed of anywhere and are a star attraction to the visitors from the Far East.

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This teacher clutching her 'Islands Rtn' ticket had her boatload of students well under control.

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In fact the huge crowds of young students taking the boat trips and enjoying the ambiance were a credit to wherever they came from - Japan? I can't tell.

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Cartmel is a nice little village well known for its racecourse.

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Synchronicity. Actually the poor lady has a natural stoop and is being dragged along by the straining dog while the man is just mirroring the lady. My last pic of Cartmel.

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A place called Cark. On the way through this village I came across some steam enthusiasts who had been having a run around the countryside on the Friday before the big Steam Gathering on Cark Airfield at the weekend. Someone said the Steam Gathering might be a bit of a 'do or die' one and the weather for the weekend was definitely not forecast to be good either. (These pics are mostly erroneously dated the 25th July but were actually taken 26th July.)

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The chap above built the replica traction engine.

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Another that had been purchased about 4 years ago.

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I noticed the tyres on Wee Mc'Gregor but didn't look closely enough at the time.

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Only when looking at this photo did I see the bolt head sticking out just below that clutch arrangement. I may be wrong but a close look at the pic below shows the tyres are held on with bolts and appear to me to be cut down tractor tyres.