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. 

Welsh Gems

It's day three of our long Welsh Weekend, which should have been four days, but isn't.

Peter had some urgent stuff to sort out workwise, the weather forecast is poor, and we have to get home tonight, so we abandoned the planned short walk for a tourist day, starting with the first little gem, the lovely town of Beddgellert.

I left Peter working, and went off to see Gelert's Grave, something I'd wanted to visit since I'd seen it on the Walkersforum.

Walking through the town, I was delighted to see this.  So much better than a billboard or a neon sign.

And these fantastic carvings are outside Beddgelert Woodcraft, a brilliant shop capable of prising money out of anyone's purse, including mine.

It's just a short walk to Gelert's Grave:

A poignant story.  Beddgelert means "Gelert's Grave", so that's how the town got its name.

















But it wasn't really the grave itself that I wanted to see.  It was this:

The bronze sculpture has been placed in the remains of this old building. You don't see it until you get to the doorway. 

I loved it. Look how his back and head have been polished by all those hands touching it.

Peter did get to join me as I walked around.  It's warm, and the hills and mountains are steaming in the rain. 

Don't the rhoddendrons look wonderful.  Unfortunately, they are considered an invasive species, as they crowd out all other plantlife.  The various environmental agencies are having to bring the plant under check.  Still looks pretty though. 

So after our potter around Beddgelert, we drove off to have a look at Harlech Castle.  You know how we like castles............

An impressive place, nearly as good as Caernarfon Castle. (Which we must go back to).

With three to four hour drive ahead of us, it was time to start thinking about going home.  Luckily we went the wrong way (my directions), and got to see Swallow Falls.

It's £1.50 to get in, and it uses one of those automated gates that you get in loos and the tube station.  You have to have the right change, but we thought it was worth it.

Brilliant.

So that was the end of that weekend.  Next weekend, Peter has a workshop in Grasmere, I'm tagging along so I can go for a walk or two in the Lakes. I'm really looking forward to it.