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Europe » United Kingdom » England » Cumbria » Ambleside August 20th 1999

We had the most beautiful walk today, following more passes and valleys than spectacular ridges. We started from the hotel and walked gradually uphill through the valley, then angled more steeply up to a pass. We crossed to the next valley by way of a pond called Blea Tarn(there are several by this name). To someone from Alberta, this tarn (small mountain lake) was completely unremarkable, but it seemed to be a point of interest to many people and is subject of a painting in Grasmere. From here we started an adventurous clamber along the side of the valley to the streams coming down from the higher hills. The first geology lesson was again useful to understand that each valley has a stream originating between two higher hills, which then drops precipitously to the valley floor ... read more
16 century house
Hikers on Wrynose Pass
Blea Tarn

Europe » United Kingdom » England » Cumbria » Lake District August 19th 1999

Once again, thank goodness, the weather forecast was wrong. No showers of any sort, light cloud and occasional gusty wind. We mainly walked along a limestone ridge, and Vince led. Andy took a day for paperwork, to my mind an odd decision in the midst of a week’s walking program. No problems, however. Vince does explain a lot more along the way than Andy or John, although as Catrina, a Parisian, remarked, “He is so talkative, sometimes he doesn’t notice no one is near him.”! The coach took us almost to Kendal , in the southern part of the Lake District, thus less mountainous and more open. We climbed to the top of the first escarpment, from where the most beautiful panorama of the central mountains opened out. The level 2 group has walked several of ... read more
Curious sheep
Black Fallow Deer
Kent Valley from Cuswick Scar

Europe » United Kingdom » England » Cumbria » Keswick August 18th 1999

Free day today. Many of us, including me, needed it, but some people planned extra hikes. I went to Keswick in a Range Rover driven by a professional chauffeur, Tom. He and his brother, John, are Londoners here for a holiday. John is a lift attendant at the House of Commons, although he once was a gas fitter. They are both over six feet tall, and are kind, earnest people. We met at the evening entertainment last evening, and they almost insisted on including me on their drive to Keswick, the nearest big town. There were lots of “hiking gear” shops in Keswick check out. I wanted some gaiters (£6.99 for nylon), which in another era would have been called spats, although these are much less elegant. They get attached to your boot lace and cover ... read more

Europe » United Kingdom » England » Cumbria » Grasmere August 17th 1999

Into our stride now: walk to a mountain, up one end, across the top (or two), and down the other end. Once again the views were stunning, and again the bad weather didn’t materialize, although it was worse than yesterday – no sun, but a few very short showers. The ascent today was very gradual on slow, grassy paths. Eventually, however, every up is telling. I had to take more and more breaks as we approached the ridge. Actually, this is good as it reminds me to look at the view. As yesterday, it was easy to see the glacial formation of the valleys. The glaciers never reached the tops, which is partly why they have ridges that can be walked. The valley of our ascent was relatively narrow, with a pretty little stream all along ... read more
Lion and Lamb rock shapes
Overlooking Grasmere Lake
Greenburn Valley below Gibson's Knot

Europe » United Kingdom » England » Cumbria August 16th 1999

Today it was supposed to rain and it didn’t – a beautiful day of mixed sun and cloud. Tomorrow it is supposed to pour, and someone told me it is the same forecast for the whole country. Layers (of clothes) today! The Level 4 walk (easier) is much more to my taste and ability, probably a bit harder than the most strenuous of the Devon walks last year. Today we took an easier route in the same general area as the harder walk – more gradual (still puffing) through broad switchback trails. I didn’t realize that the meaning of walking here is closer to what we call hiking. The objective is to go up to the top of a ridge and walk along it. The views were fabulous, and with this level of walk there was ... read more
Ruskin painted this view
Hikers
Deepdale

Europe » United Kingdom » England » Cumbria » Grasmere August 15th 1999

Defeat of a sort today. Last night the guide advised that today’s Level 2 walk was the easiest of the week, and anyone in doubt regarding doing Level 2 or 4 (easier) should try this one. So I did – and bailed out after lunch. In my biased view, the effort seemed to be devoted to getting to the top of the fells (hills/mountains) almost as fast as possible. The climbs were very steep, and little commentary was provided, only at the breaks. The countryside is beautiful. The bracken is much higher than in North Devon, although there are few wild flowers, which had highlighted the green so well last year. Rain showered all the morning and at lunch. I walked damp all day, probably from a combination of rain coming through the “waterproofing”, perspiration, and ... read more
Grasmere Lake
Rydal Vale
Rydal Water

Europe » United Kingdom » England » Cumbria » Windermere August 14th 1999

I am sitting in a frigid ensuite room in Forestside Lodge at about 3:00 pm. I arrived at the hotel by taxi from Windermere, which cost £14.50 plus £2, but at least not soaked, as I would have been on the bus. As reserved, the hotel assigned me a single room without ensuite. The toilet and shower were down two halls and through three fire-doors. (Imagine a middle-of-the night trip!) I asked if there were any ensuites, and the manager said he would keep me in mind, as some were on hold. After a rest, some videoing, a rest, and a walk into and around Grasmere (less than three hours), he said there was a double ensuite in the Lodge (a fairly recent addition). I could have it at the usual single rate. Hooray! (No TV, ... read more
Ivy on a neighbouring B&B
B&B street in Bowness
View from Churchill Tavern, Bowness


Chipping Camden – Stratford, Friday, August 13 Our tour included transportation to either Moreton-in-Marsh, or Stratford to end our journey. This was done in a Mercedes saloon! Bob and Julia were dropped off first at the train station in Moreton-in-Marsh. I was then driven to Stratford. The driver and I discussed web sites most of the way. Yvonne Jones at Hamlet House greeted me with “Are you Judith!?” even though I was very early - just after 10:00. She is a bona-fide character. She talks regularly to her talking grey parrot, which had just learned to say “spider”. He also says “cat says meow” and “pig snort snort snort”; although sometimes he reverses them. She says he knows a whole set of animal sounds and their names. He says them all mixed up and then all ... read more
Talkative parrot
Historic construction
Anne Hathaway's Cottage

Europe » United Kingdom » England April 4th 1999

The entire London Study group spent a week touring Southern England. We went to Cambridge, Ely, York, Warwick, Kentworth, Coventry, Bath, Amesbury, Salisbury & Portsmouth. Saw a couple World Heritage sites, a few castles and infinity cathedrals.... read more
Ely Cathedral
Roman Baths
Stonehenge




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