Blogs from Ambleside, Cumbria, England, United Kingdom, Europe - page 2

Geo: 54.3568, -3.03676The Lake District is quite beautiful. The grass is so green, the air is fresh and for us the weather was perfect.We arrived to Windermere by train from Manchester. We only just managed to make the train with only a minute to spare due missing our original bus, the replacement bus into Manchester left us no margin for error. We caught a cab to our accommodation, the Compston House American style bed and breakfast. We were greeted kindly with many repeats of our names, probably to helpremember. The funny thing is I wouldn't know their names and it's been two days.Sue and Jerry (I finally remembered their names) make you feel comfortable, until you have breakfast where you walk out with your pants unzipped and barely able to move from the share quantity of ... read more

Geo: 54.3568, -3.03676Another lovely day in the Lakes District! It didn't look as good today when we woke (at 8am!!) , but as we got out and headed to Troutbeck, the sun came out and shone on the lake - truly stunning scenery! At Troutbeck (a tiny village near Ambleside), the Browne family farmed and lived in the same house from 1500s to 1950s - with very little changes in the 400 years. We were surprised when we arrived to find that it was open by tour only, and that we were lucky to get places on the tour (groups of 15 only) in 10 minutes. We really are lucky travellers! It was really interesting to see the house and the furniture (much of it hundreds of years old, but ornately carved by a Browne in ... read more

Geo: 54.3568, -3.03676Steven and the kids headed off on foot from the cottage this morning, to explore the roman fort down near the Waterside (about 10 minutes away). Apparently, there is not a lot left, but plenty of imagination and room to run and make noise made it a wonderful place, even with the rain!Well, it wouldn't be the Lake District without Beatrix Potter, would it? So we headed off to the village of Near Sawrey (about 15 minutes from our cottage), where Beatrix had bought her beloved farm, Hill Top, and where she had written most of her books. We had read that the National Trust property was popular, and often sells out - at 20 minutes after opening time, we got the last car park available, and got a ticket which meant we only ... read more

Geo: 54.3568, -3.03676We woke to find that the Easter Bunny had visited during the night (and, indeed, had crossed paths with the tooth fairy for Georgia, who has worked out that 3 pound is pretty good going for a tooth - she has lost 2 in a week!). Matthew was most surprised - he thought that the 3 eggs he got at Hillsdon would be the sum total of eggs for him this year!After breakfast and phone calls home for Easter, we set off towards the village and to church. We had looked up the time of the Catholic mass, but were not sure where it was. As we got to the village, we asked directions to the Catholic church, but were sent (by accident) to the Methodist & Anglican ecumenical service. It was just about ... read more

Geo: 54.3568, -3.03676So, last night was, I think, the oldest room that I have ever stayed in (although Steven queries this claim), but was very comfortable and warm. The kids had the adjoining room - Steven and I woke with a hell of a fright when there was a loud thump. When we couldn't see anything wrong, we rolled back over - then I realised that the door to the kids room was closed. Matt must have rolled over and hit the door shut with his arm. When Steven opened the door (and we are fairly sure that it was only a couple of minutes after we were woken by the thump), there was Matthew, sitting on the floor and talking to himself in the pitch dark!After an ENORMOUS hot cooked breakfast at the Inn, we ... read more