The Lakes Part 2

Arrival day comprised little more than a visit to the curiously well recently refurbished Countryman Pub, on a main road in the middle of nowhere other than a convenient 10 minute walk from Dockray Meadow. Pleasant few hours sat in the sunny beer garden nonetheless, retreating inside for a last beer on very comfortable sofas as it got chilly.

On Coronation day we’d no intention of staying in to watch the events on TV so set off on another walk. The famous 112 mile Fred Whitton cycle challenge was passing by on the Sunday and we’d also no intention of getting twatted by 2,500 sweaty men wearing

Lycra, neither did we think we’d get away with joining in on our electric bikes with Daisy perched up front, so we planned our routes & activities over the weekend accordingly.

Over the 3 days we stayed it pissed down all day on the bank holiday, which we spent indoors getting bollocked by our health apps for sitting doing fuck all. It didn’t know about the afternoon drinks though, not that clever & I felt we’d got one over on it. The weekend otherwise was dry and pleasant though and on that crowning Saturday we did a 10 mile trek by the pretty Loweswater climbing up over Burnback Fell. A steep climb was rewarded with super views over Crummock Water and Buttermere. We did the royal bit on catch up in the evening, our streaming over Firestick works perfectly, the new van is a step up and very comfortable to lounge around in. Whilst on the subject, we’re enjoying the additional roominess, storage, comfort, a proper power shower and not taking a shit, shower and shave in the kitchen.

The Sunday was damp & the low level cloud did not bode well for the planned walk to Cogna Moss and up Blake Moor which is about 1,800 ft at its peak. We met a couple on the way down who gave up and abandoned their attempt, but we stuck with it and were rewarded with the clouds lifting as we approached the highest point on this straightforward well marked walk. No idea how they’d got lost, we did go off piste ourselves on the descent picking our way gingerly down steep paths through a felled section of forest littered with debris.

Tuesday we moved on to Hawkshead for a few days, our final stop on this reintroduction to the Lakes. Hawkshead Hall camping was a great find, just 10 minutes along the easy path into this small, pretty village. We arrived in sunshine, so shorts were deployed for the first time on this trip and we did nothing more than sit in the sunshine in the beautiful green valley the site sits in. We ambled into the village late afternoon and got lucky with a seat outside The Queens Head. We’re regulars here, & visit every 35 years. It’s that long since we stayed overnight in this old pub. Before kids. We met a lovely couple, Mike & Kate, who were on their way to Edinburgh. Enjoyed chatting with them & their kindness in buying us a beer, which we happily accepted!

That evening got an excited phone call from Rich & Sarah, our friends who are currently away in Spain, inviting us to join them for a few weeks away later in the year back in Benicassim. No hesitation in booking, & we’re both looking forward to spending some time with them again. It could be, however they’ve told us dodgy dates in the hope of us booking so they avoid us! ?? I feel some more

enjoyable chapters will be written though!

On the Wednesday we did a fairly short 7.5 miles, nonetheless quite demanding, to Windermere following Forest trails and the slippery path to Belle Grange before climbing back up via the attractive hamlet of High Wray and then up and over Latterbarrow. This isn’t a huge hill but it’s fell like and gives great views of Windermere and towards the higher peaks rising to Hellvellyn. Back to The Queens Head for pre dinner drinks, chatting to DI Toolans (actor John Lyon’s) doppelgänger in the hope of another free beer. Daisy didn’t even get a treat.

Our last day at Hawkshead I picked a walk up to Tarn Howe, with the intent to extend to visit Coniston. The climbing path up to the Tarn was absolutely fabulous, passing curious landscapes with equally curious names Torver Intake, Limestone, Iron Keld & Arnold

Intake, with eventually views over to the Old Man of Conistone. Daisy was in her element, and to see her in this habit you can see her joy as she explores & races around, coming back eventually after a few blasts on the whistle. We reflected our regret of not spending more time in the Lakes, & made promises to visit again. We followed then a popular path down through steep woodlands into Coniston seeking out coffee and cake, firstly stopping to photograph an iconic view over the still, flat, dark lake; home to Campbells ill fated Bluebird speed record attempt.

A final visit to The Queens Head was a not too difficult decision, and we were made welcome once again. A local we’d seen the previous day was a star in the bar, a proper character who we learned had been recently diagnosed with MND but was in great humour & made everyone laugh with his stories. A couple came in, stood next to him & asked the barman what beers were best, “Here, ave a slurp of mine” this chap commented “You don’t want what he’s got” said his mates. The well to do couple looked a bit awkward as he roared laughing. The barman then mentioned he’d broke his TV, the chap says “I’ve got f&@king hundreds of tellies, I’ll bring you one round. No good to me now!” Poignantly he said he’d treated himself to an e bike, promptly fell off it as he stopped peddling round the lake. “F&£@king legs wouldn’t hold me up” he says “not bothered though if I just get a few weeks on it, I’m enjoying it then someone else can benefit” Seemed to me this sums up nicely the approach and outlook the lakes create, nice people here.

Regretfully we leave for Yorkshire tomorrow, it’s healthy though we feel like this. Shows we enjoyed it.