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" A Week with Gareth & Rhian " Date & start time: 6th to 11th August 2016. Location of Start : The red phone box, Loweswater, Cumbria, Uk ( NY 143 211 ) Places visited : Various placed around the valley and a trip to Maryport. Walk details : Local to suit the weather and the needs of all concerned. Walked with : Gareth and Rhian, Ann and our dogs, Harry and Dylan. Weather : Changeable . . . good, bad and indifferent. |
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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.
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.
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.
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 - - - |
Technical note: Pictures taken with either Ann's Canon Sureshot SX220, or my Canon 1100D Digital SLR or any number of mobile phones. Resized in Photoshop, and built up on a Dreamweaver web builder. This site best viewed with . . . a spare room for family and friends to stay. Go to Top . . . © RmH . . . Email me here Previous walk - 8th August 2016 - Round Mellbreak with Jack & Catherine A previous time here - 22nd April 2012 Maryport and the Titanic Exhibition
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