Seldom Said

Seatoller walk

As predicted by the invaluable MWIS, a day without rain. Not without wind, however...

Spurred on by the prospect of a dry day, we headed for the National Trust car park at Seatoller, in gorgeous Borrowdale, intending to climb the deliciously-monikered Glaramara. Things started well, with lovely views along the valley towards Seathwaite at the start and of Comb Gill as we climbed the ridge of Thorneythwaite Fell. As we climbed higher, however, it became steadily more windy and Iestyn started to protest - loudly! After failing to mollify him with food and drink, we decided to turn back and were rewarded with some more delicious views (1 2) on the way down.

Since the weather was rapidly improving, we decided to make up for our aborted expedition with an extended ramble around the valley. After a picnic lunch, which was notable for my rather painful encounter with a wild beast (an ant in my pants), we followed a lovely path by the River Derwent. This led through beautiful woodland and featured gorgeous views of the surrounding fells. The return leg was even more rewarding, as we climbed up beside Castle Crag and then followed a high path back to Seatoller, enjoying the views back towards the crag and ahead towards Great Gable.

All in all, a thoroughly delightful day.

Labels: borrowdale, keswick, lakes

22:51 - 0 Comments

Rained off

Made no attempt to go walking today - instead we took Iestyn swimming at the leisurepool in Keswick.

22:50 - 0 Comments

We're all going on a...

The first full day of our summer holiday and - naturally - it rained. Ah well: that's the Lake District for you.

We're staying in a cottage in Keswick this week, determined to explore more of the northern fells for a change. It's not that we're bored of Ambleside and its environs; we just thought it would be nice to see some more of Borrowdale, Newlands and the other gorgeous bits of landscape hereabouts. Just a shame that we didn't see much of them today...

Undeterred by the light rain that was forecast, we decided to start our holiday off properly, with a local walk to climb Walla Crag. Setting off from our cottage with Iestyn (now 10 months old) cheerfully riding in a backpack on Alice's back, some early views of the hills whet our appetites for more and the sun even came out (briefly) to illuminate the town below us. Soon, however, the rain started up in earnest and we stood in the (meagre) shelter of a tree and pondered whether to continue. Iestyn was perfectly happy in his waterproof haven and our own wet-weather gear was keeping us reasonably comfortable, but was there much point climbing this fell if we weren't even going to have a view to reward us?

Of course there was! Climbing the delightfully rugged Cat Gill -so-called, apparently, because it was once home to wild-cats "of the tyger variety" until they were hunted to exintinction at the beginning of the nineteenth century - we had a few tantalising glimpses of what wonderful views we might have expected on a fine day. Reaching the dismal summit of the fell, however, we were forced to rely solely on our imaginations.

Fortunately, the weather didn't dampen our spirits in the least and we headed homewards, pausing only to admire the occasional striking vista and the myriad small delights of the hedgerows.

Labels: keswick, lakes

22:24 - 0 Comments

Pause for breath

Yes, I know - I haven't posted for ages. And before you ask: no, it has nothing to do with the unceasing demands of fatherhood. I'm just plain lazy.

So without further ado...

22:01 - 0 Comments

Inconsequential thoughts rarely worth muttering out loud