It's the run up to Easter and my granddaughter Abi has come
to visit along with her friend Emilia.
They arrived on Sunday, delayed a day by the train strikes,
but the weather has greeted them with bright sunshine
and the prospect of a few days nice walking in the Cumbrian
Fells.
The Dalemain Garden area on Penrith station
as Loes and I relax having arrived slightly early to meet the
train.
I understand locals school children have also
been involved in 'greening' this part of the platform to make
a nice waiting area.
The platform behind is now redundant . . . it
used to serve the now closed Penrith to Keswick, Cockermouth
and Workington railway line.
After collecting Abi and Emilia from the train
we returned via Cockermouth and viewed the Easter decorations
in the main street.
We diverted through town a little last minute
shopping was needed before reaching Loweswater.
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We celebrate their arrival this first early
evening with a short walk down to the lake.
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Meet Abi
and Emilia and myself (I'm the one of the left
!) |
Over the hill and far
away, on the way to the lake. |
Loes and the girls on the way down to Peel headland
and Sandy Yat bay.
Okay . . . a close up of the girls
with the long distance views of the fells at
the head of the valley behind them.
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The following morning the day broke clear and
sunny, so we packed our walking gear and some lunch and headed
over to Ullswater.
Our first full view of the lake . . . sometimes
you've just got to stop (traffic permitting)
and capture that first view of Ullswater from
the Troutbeck Road.
National Trust parking at Aira Force car park.
There's plenty of people about today as it is
a sunny day and the start of most folks school holidays.
We're going to climb Gowbarrow on a clockwise
circular route from the waterfalls in Gowbarrow Park up to the
top.
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Tall and
ancient trees planted as part of the ornamental park. |
The main attraction
here of course is the waterfall. |
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Sadly today the main viewing path down to the lower
bridge
is closed because of repair work and upgrading.
The poor weather at the start of the year
has presumably delayed the re-opening of the path,
but the the workmen are building new steel walkways
down below
to allow safer access to the viewing area.
- - - o o o - - -
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They are
also making safe the cliff face above the path. |
The extent of the new
season's work can be seen better from above. |
The view down from the top bridge was still as good as ever
and after a few photos we started our way up the valley.
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Crossing
the wooden bridge half way up . . . |
. . . where the river
cascades down a ravine beneath our feet. |
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After walking ahead, the girls backtracked slightly
down to the edge of the bank
to enjoy the first but more distant view
of High Force, the top big waterfall of the valley.
Dougal encouraged them to dip their feet in the water
but they sensibly declined
as it is still early Spring and the water was cold.
- - - o o o - - -
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A closer view of the falls reveals their natural
beauty.
Loes crossed over the bridge above the falls
. . . but that's not our route today.
[ Thinking about it now, she might have been
asked to go and stand on the bridge specifically for the photo
!]
Our route continued up the valley, eventually
leaving the woods behind
which allowed us to get a wider view of Dockray
and the surrounding fells.
A new-ish wooden signpost now graces the point
at which we start our climb up the fell itself.
The round symbol on the signpost of a footpath
is the marker for the long distance "Ullswater Way".
Leaving the fell gate behind and starting our
climb, the long distant views are steadily improving.
Higher up, our first view of Blencathra since
passing it in the car on the way over from Loweswater this morning.
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It's a fairly direct ascent
path here . . . that means a steep climb ! |
However the path does ease which means
we are nearing the top. |
Seen at a distance in the last picture and now
briefly free of visitors, the trig point gives lovely views
all round.
Here I'm looking over to the east, to Pooley
Bridge, Penrith, the Pennines and Cross Fell.
Why not show you the whole view !
Click here
or on the photo above for a 360
degree annotated panorama.
Summit trig is crowded once more
and a kind fellow-visitor took the camera, to
allow me to stand in a group photo.
This photo taken from our lunch spot on the
secondary top of Gowbarrow, with a view east towards the top
end of the lake.
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Time now to complete the
circle by walking down the opposite side of the fell |
. . . which brings us back around
on a good path, back towards the lake. |
The ruin of the old shooting lodge seems to
be getting smaller and more overgrown each time we visit.
The old bridge is long gone, replaced by a stone
embankment
that has now blended perfectly into the landscape.
Handed over my camera again as Loes requests
a picture of me in the sunshine.
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Round and round we go,
down and down we go'
getting into a spin . . . about the lovely views today.
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We cross through the gate, out onto the Yew
Crags viewpoint.
Loes and I on the viewpoint,
with Ullswater stretching out into the distance
behind us.
Below is Lyulph's Tower.
It's a fairly modern building with a castle-like
frontage but is house-like to the rear.
The present Lyulph's Tower was built in the
1780s by Charles Howard, the 11th Duke of Norfolk, as a hunting
lodge on top of the original Pele Tower.
The Scandinavian Ulph (name uncertain) is thought
to be the origin of the name Ulph's Water (now Ullswater).
Loes heading steadily back down to Gowbarrow
Park.
A tree-mendous shot . . . of two seasonal Herdwicks,
almost camouflaged amongst the winter bracken.
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Talking of trees, this
is the huge spruce now we're back in the park . . . |
. . . and full circle now, once we
cross the bridge below. |
We'll not head straight back to the car as there's something
else on our mind . . .
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It's refreshment time
. . . cake ? |
. . . or perhaps a scone and cream
? |
Either way we didn't exactly go back home hungry,
that's for certain.
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In the evening, suitably refreshed after our
walk, it was back in the car and we headed out for Keswick.
After a good old fashioned fish and chip supper
in the Moot Hall square (I know how to entertain !)
we found ourselves down at the theatre, with
a few minutes spare to enjoy a visit to the Boat Landings.
Afterwards, electronic tickets in hand (I know
how to be modern too !) we were off to the Show.
That's been a full day I think we can agree.