Hiley Website

The amalgamation of a few days pictures from the recent spell of fine weather.

Very hot temperatures close to 26 or 27 degrees with lots of gardening and suncream encouraged me out for an early walk with the dogs next day,

but it was down hill all the way weather wise after that ... so disappointing for the valley.

Our first pictures are night time . . . as I grab the camera to catch two hedgehogs feeding in the garden.

That's better . . . turn the flash on . . . at least it wasn't in their eyes.

A change of camera, a bigger lens and using just the house outside light they look a lot more relaxed.

They are feeding on the fallen bird food under the table . . . the lighter patch on the right being a small pile of table top that I've just put out next to them.

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We've been delighted to see these loveable

and apparently rare animals in the garden in the last two years.

To see two together was considered great

but we triumphed that tonight by having three.

The furthest one looks possibly like a nearly fully grown offspring.

I based that on size alone, not on any scientific logic.

Let's hope they thrive in our humble abode

. . . and we in theirs.

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The last few days of August are bucking the monthly trend.

August has been the wettest summer month in the northern half of Britain for many a year,

but this last couple of days have been really hot as southerly winds bring Mediterranean air up across the country.

The old log and historic ironwork . . . taken from a shady chair in the garden

Our old walking boots have been there so long that they have gathered their own layer of moss.

From outside the lounge window the view expands to include Great Gable, a wisp of cloud giving a warning of changing weather.

- - - o o o - - -

With hot night time temperatures I wake early and decide to walk the dogs down by the lake, a morning outing for a change.

The panorama from the road as I set off towards Scale Hill.

There's a definite haze about the morning rather than mountain mist and the cloud is building from the west too.

With the bigger lens on, the three summits of Green Gable, Great Gable and Haystacks take centre stage in the photo.

Looking in the fields closer to the camera is the temporary pool caused by the recent August rains . . . 'Puffin Tarn'.



The river is back in its river bed after the recent floods . . .	. . . the pathway is open and the other bank is dry once again.

The large bend in the River Cocker with an old weir on the stretch of river to the left and the swimming pool in the distance on the right.

The flat calm lake at nine o'clock in the morning.

" Meniscus "

" the convex or concave upper surface of liquid, the curvature of which is caused by surface tension." . . . freedictionary.com

Mellbreak emerges from behind the woods and Red Pike and High Stile provide the backdrop further down Crummock Water.

Looking across the bay from the wall alongside the weir . . . all is calm.

On the other hand the fish ladder cascade is very much churning the water

as the River Cocker starts its way toward the sea.

No-one on the beach this morning . . . very much in contrast to the bank holiday crowds just a few days ago.

The reflections improve . . . as I look back after crossing the bridges.



"Game of Thrones" alley . . . the footpath by the lake.	Over the bridge at Park Beck.

A moment of slight mischievousness . . . why use the bridge if it is warm enough to wade through the water ?

I follow the dogs and catch a photo half way across . . . the far bridge looks like it is sitting on the lower supporting cable of the nearer one.

Our on the lake a paddle boarder stops for a breather and to take his photo of the day.

Camera packed away . . . he moves on.

More reflections on the turn by the Pump House



Changing position and format for the small tree to the side.	Tram lines of fallen trees on The Peel.

These are the old stumps . . . nearly twenty years after they fell and the pine trunks were cleared away from the path.

As I round The Peel a slight breeze seems to be starting.

Sandy Yat . . . yat is the gate but those pebbles are hardly sand, no matter what dialect you use.

Walking the lake shore path . . . I'll go as far as the gate then cut up the other side of the wall.

Nice photo . . . pity about the haze.

Up the steep bank, quite a hot climb in the warm weather even though it is still only 9.30 am.

Looking ahead to the prospect of Low Fell and the Lorton Valley.

High Park House . . . a listed property reflecting its heritage.

In the lane there's a bonus breakfast treat . . .

. . . but I'll leave the hawthorn berries to the birds.

The Kirkstile seen across the fields as I near home.

Likewise . . . Loweswater Church from the stile adjacent to Gillerthwaite.

Low Fell in the distance with its bracken covered lower slopes . . . and the Lonesome Pine half way up.

- - - o o o - - -

Later in the day the local farmer is working flat out to " make hay while the sun shines "

The big field opposite has hardly been grazed this year due to a change of ownership and so the long grass is now being cut.

It took just two days to cut, dry, bale and transport the rolls away for storage,

a job the farmer finally completed late in the evening as the first drops of rain began to fall.

	- - - o o o - - - As per the forecast, the weather in the second half of the week deteriorated as a low pressure weather system rolled in from the Atlantic. Friday they put up the marquees for the Loweswater Show and Friday night they all blew down. Saturday and Sunday forecasts were for showers and blustery winds so the Show Committee took the decision to cancel the show on safety grounds . . . such a shame for the valley, but looking at the weather it was a very sensible decision.



Not only were our potential prize winning entries not needed . . .	all the hard work of the farmers to get their animals ready was in vain too.

- - - o o o - - -

Still at least they were prompt in announcing the decision and making sure it was quickly broadcast to all.

An awful lot of the final detail for the show was not needed to be done and therefore a lot of unnecessary hard work was successfully avoided.

A shame for the Show Committee who put in so much effort to organise the day, only to have it blown apart.

Let's hope that next year their efforts and those of local valley folk, will be better rewarded.

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