I love my new camera. Coniston Water, Castlerigg Circle and Brougham Castle

Click on any picture to get a bigger version.

What can I say.  The Pier Cottage Caravan Park was, for us anyway, idyllic.  Facilities are relatively basic, but the welcome was warm and friendly, and the site was set out brilliantly.  At night we were able to stand by the water and watch the bats flit round our heads. Waking up in the morning was a delight.  Once I'd left the camper van to visit the facilities, I wouldn't get back in again, I was so in love with the surroundings.  Some early morning photographs:

A Goosander mom waking the chicks.  "Quick, there's a dog on the way"

"Into the water, hurry hurry!" 

The second morning.  The sky was so blue and clear..,,,,,,,,  And so was the water. 

Puts me in a reflective mood. 

Mother duck bought her new babies over to see me.  I think this must be a second brood of chicks.  

I'm loving the zoom and the quality of the pictures on the new camera.  This little chap came and sat with us for breakfast.

The steam ferry getting ready for a busy day's ferrying 

 After a brilliant walk yesterday, we decided to take it easy today.  A leisurely breakfast, and then a drive into Ambleside for a potter round the shops.  Then it was on to Castlerigg Stone Circle.

A busy place, it was impossible to get a picture of the circle without anyone in it.   This site is around 4500 yrs old.  Amazing when you think about it.  

The Sanctuary, an inner ring of the circle, with the might of Blencathra in the background

After a wander around ancient history, (and an icecream), we carried on our way home, with a quick look at Brougham Castle.  We'd driven past it so many times, we thought today would be a good day to pop in and have a mosey around.

The thing that struck me about this place was the red brick.  It's unusual to see it on a castle, and sort of makes it look modern.

To be honest, from certain angles, it would be easy to mistake this place for an old factory or prison perhaps. Interesting in a way. 

And that was the end of a brilliant weekend.

I do love my new camera.  

Coniston Old Man and Swirl How

Click on any picture to get a bigger version.

The Old Man of Coniston.  Sounds like a hermit mebbe?  Grey, grubby and bearded, hiding in a cave somewhere?  I love the name and the images it conjures up.  Love of the name is a good enough reason to go see what's at the top as far as I'm concerned, and that's one of the reasons why we were here this weekend.

The other reason was Le Tour d' France.  Fantastic event that it is, it threatened to completely scupper our weekend by making it impossible to drive anywhere in the Dales.  We did think about going to the Peak District, and then realised that all the cycling (nuts) enthusiasts would be heading south after the first leg, so we decided to get out of the way and go west.

And like all brilliant ideas, this one was mine.

The view from just outside our caravan site.  How gorgeous is that?

Peter has moments of brilliance too, and finding the caravan site was his.  Pier Cottage Caravan Park was idyllic and perfect for us with our little camping van.  Each pitch is separated by loose hedges and trees and the site is right on the edge of Coniston Water.  We were worried about midges, but even they weren't a problem.  It was gorgeous. 

So we arrived Friday night, and Saturday morning we set off on a beautiful morning on a date with the Old Man of Coniston.  Our route up was dotted with wonderful sights that no photograph can ever show properly.

Church Beck has so many waterfalls, most of them you can only hear, not being able to get close enough to to admire.  This one is right alongside the path though. 

One of my favourite points of the walk.  This is the Miners Bridge across Church Beck.  Just beautiful. 

Further along the path we start to climb towards Crowberry Haws (another wonderful name). The foxgloves were just begging to be photographed.  How could you not with a back drop like that?

As we reached Crowberry Haws, we were joined by what Peter described as a motorway of people traffic.  They had parked just above Heathwaite and walked up Big Hill to join the path.   

Onwards and upwards.  Along with the hordes, we climbed Stubthwaite and Colt Crags respectively.  (Not literally, there is a nice steep, rocky and windy path around them).  We then reached the old abandoned quarries and levels.

As so often happens, the leftovers of man's destruction take on a beauty of their own. 

Next stop, Low Water, which isn't very low at all at 1795ft.  A lovely place for a snack stop. 

Going up and looking down.  That's Low Water below us.  The highest point of the hill in the near distance (I didn't really just type that did I?), is Wetherlam.  

Top of the world.  Or in this case, the top of The Old Man of Coniston. 

Our route to Swirl How.  It's a nice walk.  Most of the people who'd reached the summit of Coniston Old Man turned to go back the way they'd come.  Now the path got quieter, and all you could hear was the wind..........   And  by 'eck it was flamin' loud......!  And cold!  Hats, gloves, extra layers and coats....  we had everything on! 

We paused at Levers Hawse for a drink, enjoying the view of Levers Water and Coniston Water in the distance.  So blue. 

Still a little way to go to get to the summit of Swirl How though. 

Nearly there.  Aren't the views fantastic?  That's Black Sails to the right, and the ridge behind leading to Wetherlam.  I loved the luminescent green lichen on the rocks up here too, it added so much character to the place.  I think I like Swirl How.

Swirl How summit cairn. 

OK.  So we've done the up, and now we're going down.  It's warmer in the shelter of the mountains.  Our path took us under Black Sails down to Levers Water.  

From Levers Water the path is clear easy to follow over Kennel Crag and Tongue Brow.  

As we continued downhill, the sunlight played on the old coppermines.  It looks lovely doesn't it.  These are crepuscular rays apparently.  Peter teaches people how to paint them in his classes. 

After the coppermines we reached the Miners Bridge and followed our footsteps back through Coniston to our caravan site.  10 miles and nearly 3000 ft of up and down.  Not an easy walk but worth it.

Here's a map.

A Grasmere stroll.

So today Peter was running his 2nd day of his Grasmere workshop, which meant I had another day to play whilst he worked.  I decided I was going to take it easy today, so first of all I had a wander around the little town.  That cost me a fortune!
So, once I'd dropped off my purchases back at the camper van, I decided I wanted to go out and find out about Faeryland, a sort of cafe that I'd heard of, and then perhaps walk around Grasmere up to Rydal Water.

Well, I can tell you Faeryland is a lovely place to sit and enjoy coffee n cake. You can watch the ducks and birds and enjoy the view across Grasmere. The little rowing boats look fun too.

Jackdaw.  I really like these birds, and crows.  They really are quite handsome.

Looking across Grasmere from Faeryland.

From the little cafe, I followed the road up hill until I reached a house called The Lea.  Just past it is a permissive path that leads down to the lake and around alongside it until you reach the southern edge. It was a good job there weren't many cars, because there loads of people and no paths.

I loved all the flowers growing along the walls and edges.  I must have looked a right numpty crouching in corners against the side of the road, trying to get the macro feature on my camera to focus.  I think the trouble is that the camera is cleverer than me.  I try to make it do things my way, and it fights me at every shot!

We reached a compromise in the end though..............................

Welsh Poppy

Herb Robert

Blackberry

There are Rhododendrons everywhere.  Lovely to look at, but unfortunately the plant seems to be taking over in some areas, and has to be brought under control.  So pretty though.

Rhododendron

Once down at the lakeside, I sat or strolled according to whim, enjoying the views and the wildlife.

The large white house in the centre is Allen Bank. It used to be owned by Wordsworth and must have one of the best views in England.

And of course the flowers, it's definitely the time of year for them.

 

Germander Speedwell

Bistort













Yellow Iris

Cuckoo Flower

Once I'd reached the south shore of Grasmere, I followed the river Rydal to the car park alongside Rydal water.  Looking for the best route back, I decided to retrace my steps, because the only alternative seemed to be to follow a busy road.

Allan Bank again. 

Pink Purslane

Once I'd got back to Grasmere, I found more shops to wander around.  It didn't cost quite as much this time though. 

So back to meet up with Peter, help him pack away and then time to go home.  I've had a wonderful weekend, and as always, I'm looking forward to the next time. 

Day of the Tarns.

Looking down Easedale towards Grasmere.  

Well there isn't a Grasmere Horseshoe, or an Easedale Horseshoe.  But maybe there should be.

Peter was running one of his two day workshops in Grasmere, and I tagged along, so that he could work and I could play and enjoy a walk in the Fells.  Almost a tradition is for Peter to walk to the summit of Helm Crag on the Saturday evening of this workshop, and I wanted to join him.  Or as per today, meet him.

So the walk was worked out to end on Helm Crag at about 6.30pm.  I had all day, could take it as easy as I liked, and go where I pleased.  So I did.

I've put the map on first this time, cos that way it's probably easier to see what the photographs are about.  Start at Grasmere, clockwise round to High Raise, and meet Peter at Helm Crag.  I didn't work it out until I wrote this blog post, but for the Wainwright baggers amongst you, there are six on this route: Blea Rigg, High Raise, Sgt Man, Calf Crag, Gibson Knott and Helm Crag.  But you could easily have made it seven with a little diversion onto Silver Howe at the start.

An it really was the day of the Tarns, they were everywhere, some of them quite beautiful.  Here are the pictures.

This is a little after the start of the walk.  That's Helm Crag on the left, then over on the opposite side of the valley you have Seat Sandal, Fairfield and Great Rigg.  Great Rigg isn't really higher than Fairfield, it's just closer. 

This little unnamed tarn just south under Lang Howe was so lovely I couldn't stop taking pictures.

They were so pretty.  They're called Bogbean, it doesn't seem right does it?

I wanted to find out what these flowers were called. 

From Lang Howe, there are a couple of castles: Little Castle How and Great Castle How.  And some fantastic views.

Looking down Langdale from Little Castle How.

This little tarn is one of two just southwest under Great Castle How

Meadow Pipit on Blea Rigg

Easedale Tarn from Blea Rigg

First sight of Stickle Tarn on my left as I'm walking. You can see Harrison Stickle dead centre and Pavey Ark to the right.

And on my right....  Codale Tarn and Easedale Tarn.

Sergeant Man.  I've always thought it an odd name.  I wonder how it got it?

Stickle Tarn sort of centre, and Thunacar Knott on the right.  Thunacar Knot is a brilliant name. 

High Raise next. This is the Trig Point and the highest point of the walk.

And this is why we like being up here.  You can see forever.  That's Skiddaw and chums in the distancei

From High Raise, down to Low White Stones and Greenup Edge is fairly uneventful. Then a right turn to follow the C2C for a little while past Birks.  Nice and boggy around there, I can tell you. Then I turned north and headed for Brownrigg Moss (another little tarn and the last one of the walk), and Calf Crag.

The path from Brownrigg Moss to Helm Crag just goes up and down, up and down. It was getting towards the end of the day and my legs were getting tired, but Helm Crag just never seemed to get any closer! 

Still a little way yet.  I've been taking my time, and now I'm wondering if Peter will get there before me?

Nearly there. When the sun's out, the green is greener, and the blue, bluer.  Just wonderful. 

Finally here.  This is The Howitzer, the summit of Helm Crag. 

I needn't have worried about Peter.  I arrived at six, and then had a wonderful half hour enjoying the views, the weather and chocolate until he got there.  Brilliant eh?

And now it's time to find our way down.  A wonderful day and a fantastic walk.  

So that worked out at about 12 miles (cos of me meandering) and about 3100ft of up and down.  A good walk because there are no really long steep climbs, it's more of a continuous and relatively gentle up as you make your way towards High Raise.  Just right for me. 

Finally, we enjoyed a lovely steak dinner at the Lamb Inn to end the day.  Nice. 

Peter has his second workshop day tomorrow and I'm just going to wander off for a little mooch around.  It's going to be lovely.