Seasons of Mellow Fruitfulness (and Lakes)

I am no poet but being in the Lakes District for a week has seen me waxing lyrical on more than one occasion, much to Barbara’s dismay.  So here are just one or two of my observations – leaves falling like gentle snow; a glow of golden colours; wind-rustles in the hedgerows; leaves piled up on steps like a bubble bath of foam (that one is truly awful I know, sorry). One of the more unexpected noises/sights that we discovered is that Lake Windermere is on nearby RAF Spadeadam’s training ground and the jets come out of nowhere with a noise and verocity that is both alarming and thrilling at the same time.  RAF, NATO, Royal Navy and British Army all practise here. We probably surprised ourselves by choosing to spend our “free week” in the Lakes. We bandied around all sorts of ideas & locations both in the UK and offshore, but very happy with our decision to unwind & enjoy this lovely region. We went to the local movie theatre and saw Stalin (interesting choice but it was ok), and also to the local professional theatre (Old Laundry Theatre) to see and thoroughly enjoy “By Jeeves”, a Lloyd Webber/Alan Ayckbourn collaboration. We have negotiated narrow and intriguing lanes (searching for farm shops, visiting Beatrix Potter’s Hill Top house, and stopping at other National Trust properties to make the most of our NZ Historic Places reciprocal membership). We have loved staying so close to local walkways and the Windermere Ferry.  Bowness is a busy tourist spot, even at this time of the year, but thankfully we chose a self-catering cottage just far enough away (15 min walk) to make it feel less hectic.  Although it is right on the road to the ferry! But this was so interesting, as there is also a boat building yard across the road, so plenty to keep us amused. This week has given me (us) time to reflect on our travels. But more on that later….

Meanwhile dear friends, I will leave you with one more reflection (thanks to Beatrix……..”…I walk step by step on the fells and rough lands seeing every stone and flower and patch of bog and cotton grass where my old legs will never take me again”. If that be the case, then I am still a lucky lass.

Pam

Truly a lovely spot, and when you get away from the crowds it is a time to relax, take in the sights and take things rather more slowly! The luxury of a rental car for a week has given us the freedom to move further afield and we have explored both ends of Lake Windermere and lots in between. It also meant we could take our time travelling from York to the Lake District and explore the Yorkshire Dales – a beautiful part of the country.

We have also seen the lake from a cruise on same and have been fortunate to enjoy stunning vistas as we have had several days of sunshine although with temperatures around 12 degrees so jackets are a requirement on outings.

Daylight saving ended here last weekend, we are now plunged into darkness about 5 pm! But with that, the festive season is starting to take a life of its own as shops gear up for Christmas. It is just as well we have limited capacity to bring purchases home!

And so to the last leg of our trip –

Barbara

Some of these Yorkshire Dale bridges are quite high! Spot Pammy

On the way through the Dales

Askrigg Village - setting for All Creatures Great and Small

View from our accommodation in Bowness-on-Windermere

Hill Top House where Beatrix Potter wrote many of her works Her hat and gardening clogs just as she might have left them

Hill Top House garden and Pammy

Claife viewing station on the shore of Lake Windermere looking south. This was built by the Victorians. The building windows tinted with coloured glass were designed to re-create the landscape under different seasonal conditions. Yellow = summer, orange = autumn, light green = spring, dark blue = moonlight

Old phone boxes put to good use! Good idea

View from Biskey Howe looking north

Autumn colours

Treated ourselves to a cream tea at The Belsfield Hotel, Bowness. Not a bad view looking out onto the lake. A Laura Ashley themed hotel apparently