Hiley Website

Self- isolation day four, or is it five so far . . . time has a different meaning in these strange times.

The other strange feeling after the cold and damp winter is the bright sunshine and warmth of spring.

Did someone suggest lunch al-fresco ?

Dylan must have had his lunch otherwise he would be waiting closer to the table for any extras.

Even when staying apart from others, we still have to get out for fresh food.

The local shop at Lorton is open and they are stepping up to the task . . . full marks Lee and Arwen

We've ordered a few essentials in advance so, with their help, time in the presence of other will be kept to a minimum .

They advertise the shop as the "The Shed with a View" . . . they are not wrong on a day like today.



On the way back I stop at the Whit Beck Bridge . . .	. . . for a few extra photos away from home.

This is Ladyside Pike, Hopegill Head and the Whiteside Ridge as seen from my stopping place.

An enthusiastic 'welcome home' committee . . . hang on I've only been gone twenty minutes !

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There are only a limited number of different local walks from home but even the same walk can vary due to the weather, the season or the time of day.

Today (Thursday) it was a suggestion by one of you that I should sneaking out early to see the views

and that was on my mind when the early sunshine through the bedroom curtains jogged at my conscience.

Consequently I was up and away with the dogs by 8.30 am (early for me) on a morning walk down to the lake.

Bright sunshine over Grasmoor means the camera struggles with the correct exposure.

Looking away from the sun towards the Church and the Kirkstile the colours are easier.

Behind is Black Crag with the grassy climb through the heather that takes you up towards Gavel and Blake fells.

Carling Knott above the Quarry field.

Today's competition . . . what's different compared to last month ? (I don't mean the weather or the new trees)

Hold your cursor over the image to give you a clue (or open this page in a different window)

[ * The answer is now that Spring has arrived the council has delivered a new green winter road-salt bin !]

The other things that have arrived in the last week have been the new spring lambs in the field next door.

The dogs and I set off down the road, catching a close up through the hedge.

Where the hedge is thicker they don't face away as they don't notice us walking past.

The dog on the top of the log pile could be looking out for a lost sheep on his farm . . . it's below you (ewe ?)

The River Cocker . . . thankfully restrained by its normal river banks of late.

Often in the past when I've taken this picture, especially during the floods, the water has extended across the whole width of the valley floor.

I had heard that the National Trust has closed their car parks to discourage visitors driving to the countryside.

A new tape across the entrance makes the point.

However five great logs on both entrance driveways brings home the stark message in no uncertain terms.

I walk on to the riverside path . . . there's no-one about.

The water-gauge house quietly recording normal water levels.

Mellbreak across one of the swimming pools in the river.

Dougal waits as I make my way through the trees to the next big pool.

The horseshoe bend in the river, seen from the forest track, after I climbed up through the trees.

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The track leads out onto the beach at the northern end of the lake

where there's a lovely, tall Scots Pine.

Dougal has his tennis ball ready.

He's been given it to avoid him chewing so many sticks on the walks.

It's great fun for him but hard work for me

as I have to keep throwing it

or kicking it all the time.

Every time I do, he brings it back

. . . but then he is a retriever after all !

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" Play with me Daddy "

I throw the ball behind me, back down the track

in order to catch a picture of the reflections of Crummock without any dog ripples.

A few moments on the seat to appreciate the day then it is on towards the weir.

The overflow to the left is over natural stone, the more artificial white water to the right is caused by the bobbles on the eel matting.

Red Pike and High Stile over the meniscus.



A quiet cascade over the fish ladder today.	Is that a bird on the lip of the weir ?

A dipper re-emerging ? . . . or just a stick trapped on the edge.

Time to be heading back my breakfast, they had theirs before we left home.

	- - - o o o - - - When the lake was raised over a hundred years ago many parts of this end of the lake had raised concrete walls built at the margins. These are occasionally helpful in times of high water or when the path gets really muddy The sharp outlines of the wall have mellowed over time as the concrete has weathered or fallen apart. - - - o o o - - -

The view . . . so nice I photographed it twice.

Ahead is the gravel bank caused by the stones brought down into the lake by Park Beck.

That's the local name here for the river that flows out of Loweswater as Dubs Beck but changes its name along the way.

Using the concrete wall as a path, in Dougal's case as a step up and over into the water.

More dog-ripples disturb the otherwise pristine reflection of Mellbreak.

Seven and a half old pines alongside the small gravel beach on the Peel.

Carling Knott once again as I head for home now.

Directly ahead, though we'll not go that way, is the rock in the field with the ancient 'cup and ring' marks.

New dog-flaps on some local fences have made the walk home easier all round.

Back to the field with the new lambs.

My outward route was along the road behind the fence that runs between here and Foulsyke House.

Standing guard near her offspring as we walk past.

Finally a lovely group of seasonal daffodils outside my neighbour's house.

Coffee time now . . . that will be nice too !

Hi Roger and Ann . . .

You commented that you don't know how you'll keep managing to take interesting photos of more limited walks. I just want to say please keep posting, even if you think you're running out of ideas. Now that all our horizons are narrowing for a while, it is such a help to be able to see a landscape beyond our immediate area - and it's always great to see what you're up to! - Catherine Whatmough. (Yorkshire)

Thanks Catherine . . . we'll do our best to oblige.

Keep taking the pictures for all us poor folks that don’t live in such an amazing place, keep safe - Susan Spargo

Thanks Susan, I hope you have some accessible local Cornish walks too.

Fabulous photos Roger and if you more or less repeat this walk frequently with the same amount of detail you (and we) will have a wonderful record of the unfolding of the seasons in a very small compass, much in the tradition of some of the great nature writers of earlier centuries, but with the added bonus of images ! – Judith Griffiths (via text)

Thanks Judith, there are only a limited number of different local walks to rotate so I think you may just get what you desire.

You are very fortunate that you can walk safely from home and live in a beautiful area. I can imagine you in your lovely garden too with those stunning views. Derek still has holiday left from last year and we would most probably have been up on a week like this. We were also all going away as a whole family to a beautiful holiday home to celebrate Derek being 60 in January but that is cancelled. That is very sad but this virus has taught us how important life and good health is and that these wonderful treats will hopefully be able to be shared at another date - Julie and Derek. (Dorset)

Don't worry, we really do appreciate our fortunate position and aim to keep the photos coming as usual.

Hope you managed to get your Low Newton booking moved successfully. It's a shame that we'll not be able to meet as planned but sadly bigger things are afoot. The photo below shows Mac and Lisa on the beach at Low Newton on a glorious day in May 2017.

John, Lisa and our dog Mac (Dylan’s brother)

Ann and I have re-booked our May Northumberland holiday for the same time next year. The picture will be great for reminding us what's to come once we get back to normal. Thanks.

What a fantastic set of photos of the peregrines yesterday - quite a bonus on your walk Roger. Please keep the photos coming, even if they are of the same area, as each day is different in the Lakes and we need the "fix" as often as possible, you along with Tony Richards and others. We are due up there in August, hopefully all will be well by then. Already had to cancel our Northumbria trip at end of May, but re-booked for next year. Take care - Steve & Eileen.

Do let us know what dates you've re-booked to, perhaps we might bump into you (once social-distancing has ended).

I began my morning here in Vermont with your "Under Melbreak on a Spring Day" and I thank you, once again, for the pleasure you provide to many people around the world. Your photos and your walks help keep us sane. I'll have a walk here in Vermont this morning, keeping distant from anyone else I met on the way, and now inspired to look for any signs of spring under the snow that blankets the fields and the woods here - Judy Hallberg (New England USA)

Once again, a huge thank you for your faithfulness in keeping the website going despite constraints. Even if the updates become less frequent, they will be very welcome (perhaps even more so). Seeing the countryside change as spring and summer come in will be food for the soul, as we all deal with whatever our different countries/States impose on us. All the very best to you both (and, of course, the dogs). David and Dorothy (Australia)

Keep well and keep the photos coming. Sneak out early to bottom of the dell and take some shots, help to keep the insane sane.

Glenn Pike

I took your suggestion today Glenn . . . hope you like them.

I trust I've eased your self-isolation just a little bit with these pictures of our local area.

Why not send me a picture of yours ?

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