Storm Eunice blew through well to the south of Cumbria and the snow that followed also fell a fair way away from Loweswater.

This morning however was wet and windy, with the clouds down on the fells and hiding the weather they were experiencing.

The forecast however was for a brighter afternoon so Loes and I decided to leave little to chance

and head to the coast to enjoy a low level walk with loads of interest.

As we drove out of the valley we could see snow under the still-present clouds.

From the Hundeth Hill turn I could see the snow covered slopes of Skiddaw, beyond Ling Fell and Lord's Seat.

It's High Tide just before two o'clock this afternoon . . . and the river is looking delightful.

The tide is just on the turn and the river is starting to flow out past the harbour light.

At the exit of the harbour the sea is more disturbed and slightly more brown with Solway Estuary mud.

Beyond the northern breakwater are the mountains of Scotland.

The weather has come up trumps and loads of folk are out enjoying a warm stroll.

A sculpture alongside Senhouse Bridge is called "A Fishy Tale"

sculptured in resin and red sandstone dust, by the late Maryport artist Colin Telfor

The river further up was once a hive of shipbuilding, and was renown for sideways launching of new ships into the river.

This naturally caused a slight tidal wave across the opposite bank on launch days

and the new leisure centre in the background, built on part of the old shipyard, goes by the name of "The Wave"

Harbours always look their best at high tides on sunny days.

- - - o o o - - -   There was also a further signboard by the bridge which tells the story of a wartime raid on Maryport.   The rogue plane failed to make it's planned target further north so dropped its deadly load of bombs on the town and harbour area. Sadly seven people lost their lives in the raid.  The gap between the Lifeboat Inn and the Maritime Museum was apparently where one of the bombs landed. - - - o o o - - -

After enjoying the docks area we took a stroll out towards the Promenade.

These 18th Century houses in King's Street show signs of an earlier existence as a warehouses or commercial buildings.

The right hand one has an old, upper doorway still sporting some old iron door hinges at the first floor level.

We leave the houses behind and stroll, or should we say promenade, along the foreshore.

The tide is ebbing and the waves are small today.

This must have been a damp place to stand during the recent gales.

Real efforts have been made to improve the foreshore area.	The shoreline changes from sand to red sandstone rock.

The lose stones on the rock in this and the previous picture, are testament to the power of the waves.

The sea wall gradually curves away north and our view ahead is of distant Allonby Bay.

At a brightly painted shelter where we turn and take a rising path behind it.

This will take us up onto the high ground above the shoreline and to the site of the Roman Fort.

No, not the fort, but a rather nice house built by Henry Senhouse

or one of the other rich shipping / coal mining magnates of the town.

Our path brings us up to this wooden structure.

It looks like a conning tower for a Roman airport . . . but then Roman's didn't have planes !

It is a modern representation of a Roman viewing tower that has been constructed on the site of the Maryport Roman Fort, Alauna.

The famous Hadrian's Wall has its western end near Carlisle, but there were castles and Roman harbours all the way down the Cumbrian Coast.

The museum was open today, but deserves more time than we have to spare.

The buildings of the Senhouse Roman Museum . . . worth a visit sometime soon.

Every good fort must have a few earthworks around it, and Maryport is no exception.

- - - - o o o - - - The site marks the northern boundary of the Roman Empire. The Romans occupied the area from about the years 70 to 410 AD.   The signpost by the entrance is more a modern design but just check out the wording on the fingers ! - - - o o o - - -

The prosperous town that benefited from the Victorian industry of the day

also sported many fine homes such as these on Camp Road.

The classic, cobbled Flemming Square, named after Mary Flemming, Humphrey Senhouse's wife.

It features some lovely old Georgian listed buildings, a central obelisk and four engraved plaques, two of which are below.

On the path north to the Roman Camp.	On the path south to the harbour.

We took the latter and were soon overlooking the harbour area once again.

The car is somewhere down there on King Street, 150 feet below.

A steep stairway led us carefully down to the car at the end of the walk.	What would be great now is a nice cup of tea.

On a previous visit to the town Loes had discovered an eclectic, boutique, back street cafe called Her Citi

There wasn't a matching teacup in the place, the serviette didn't represent the day, but what lovely atmosphere, tea and scones . . . most recommended !

On your visit could have lunch or teas, buy cards or pictures, brows the clothing or household accessories

and enjoy the unusual surroundings of this lovely cafe

- - - o o o - - -

Back home to Palace How and Grasmoor in the Lorton Valley.  The weather hasn't been too bad during the afternoon

but the sky here probably was never as blue as that sky at Maryport this afternoon.