Hiley Website

All this week Gareth and Rhian have been staying here in Loweswater.

Not the best weather over the week but we were able to get out and enjoy several local walks

and a visit to Maryport Aquarium before they returned home.

- - - o o o - - -

First some other welcome visitors who had not been over for a while either . . .

John and Dee were over from Durham having a well earned break.

They too are finding the life of retirement very busy.

A tall pyramidal orchid by the side of the river as it flows into Harry's pool.

Not a bad close up, taken on my phone camera !

We have two red squirrels regularly visiting the garden. We have also had a grey appear once or twice which is a problem.

The cage behind is a clever trap to catch the larger greys, whilst letting the smaller reds feed unhindered.

He is using his tail tucked through the entrance to balance on the edge.

Should he trip the gate mechanism then he can escape through the small round hole on the right.

- - - o o o - - -

Gareth and Rhian, his fiancé arrived on Saturday

They are both here for the week and hoping for good weather to enjoy the area.

Our first walk was from Cinderdale car park back to the cottage along side the edge of Crummock Water.

Soon after the start there's a fine seat and chance for a family photo.

The beach can vary in size depending on the state of the lake. It has been a good summer for weather

but there has also been a fair amount of rain in between the sunshine so lake levels are reasonably normal.

This tree intrigued us . . . it appeared to have three different types of leaf.



A red-berried rowan is growing out of the root system of the beech and	higher up the oak leaves from the adjacent tree blend with beech canopy.

It is a squally day and the breeze is blowing straight down the lake . . . causing the spray to lift in spirals at times.

Here on the beach the waves are quite high as a result.

They crash over the low lakeside wall and down the overflow.

	- - - o o o - - - No lads . . . we'll not go that way today. It is back down the river to Scale Hill car park and then a walk back to the cottage. We'll fetch the car afterwards while supper is being prepared. - - - o o o - - -



On Monday, as I walked with Jack and Catherine to Scale Force . . .	. . . Ann took Gareth and Rhian to see another local waterfall.



This is the base of Moss Force above the road at Newlands Hause.	It is a series of cataracts that stretch high up the fell side.

	They stand by the lower part of the waterfall but there are several paths opposite the parking area that allow you to approach the falls at many different levels as it cascades down from Buttermere Moss. - - - o o o - - - After their walk they drove back to Lanthwaite Green with the intention of walking up the old track alongside Gasgale Gill.

	Plenty of chance for Harry to cool down in the pools of the Lisa Beck that flows down via the Gasgale Valley. - - - o o o - - - His tail and ruff are so fluffy they float on the water !



Beautiful heather and summer blue skies . . .	. . . the yellows of the gorse complementing the purple heather

The Rowan is also in bloom on this riverside tree.

Harry enjoying all the personal attention as Dylan is away with Roger on the other walk.

Back down to the car at Lanthwaite Green.

They didn't quite make the small waterfall at the exit to the Gasgale Valley as the path has been washed out.

No problem if you are heading up to the fells as a new path has developed higher up,

but from there you won't see the waterfall in close-up either.

- - - o o o - - -

Later in the week Gareth and I took the dogs for a stroll up to the old pine tree on the side of Low Fell.

The summer bracken is very high and after our easy walk through Whiney Riding Woods (at the base of Low Fell)

we doubled back on the footpath that climbs back up from the old Pottergill Farm ruins, pushing the bracken aside as we went.

We reach the tree . . . from where the view was as good as ever.

Gareth's picture of the valley all the way up to Great Gable at the top end.

Don't look now . . . but we're being watched.

- - - o o o - - -

Saturday was a poor weather day so we headed out to the coast and the Aquarium at Maryport

Sorry no outside photos . . . we were running to get out of the rain !

There's a fine collection of aquatic life, all well displayed in this local visitor attraction.

Here we looked down from a small viewing gallery to the assistant

who was hand-feeding the fish in the Shark and Ray Pool

The feeding was accompanied by an informative local commentary and chance to ask questions.

All of their exhibits have been caught locally or brought back from commercial visits to Anglesey or the south coast.

Over time, of course, they will have bred youngsters and many of these are on display too.

Spread across numerous tanks, all connected by a spider's web of plumbing, there were fish and invertebrates of every description. In one tank there was an inside viewing dome so Ann climbed underneath and emerged into the dome. Behind her the blue lobster was waiting . . .

Add to that the Trout Cascade, Solway Estuary, Crashing Wave, the Sea Lab, Rock Pool, Shark & Ray Pool and the Ship Wreck,

and you end up with a very worthwhile attraction.

It may not be the most modern environment, but their attention to detail

and their obvious desire to display as many of the British fish that swim our coast, is second to none.

For families with younger children and fine weather there's lots of outside activities including miniature golf and a boat pond.

For wet days or lunchtimes there's a rather nice little seaside shop and cafe . . . anyone for tea and scones ?

- - - o o o - - -

On the final evening of Gareth's visit, Jack and Catherine came back over for supper

" We'll bring dessert " they said.

After a Oak Cottage curry the table was cleared . . .

. . . for a Cantelo special pavlova of meringue and fresh fruit.

Good job we left a little room for pudding !

- - - o o o - - -


Remember: Press F11 for a full screen view of this page.