Friday 11 July 2014

Castle Crag

22 June 2014

Up in the north of the Lake District is a pretty valley that looks upon Castle Crag.  Castle Crag is just an outcropping of rick up at the top of a hill (while called a fell, it has trees about so is technically not a fell).



As I headed up the below view started to form.  


Looking out on the valley at a nice switchback.  It was very muggy that day and as I was headed up my shirt got soaked; by this time I was drinking lots of water.


About two thirds up the full valley was visible.


I could now start to see to the north east.  That trail is what I'll follow back as I go around the other hill. to the left.  But first I have to keep going up the fell.


Behind me is Castle Crag at the very top.  That pile of spoil is from slate mining that used to occur here.  The trail up actually follows the to the left and on the spoil pile.


Whew!  Finally at the top and looking south towards Derwent Water.  The river flowing into it is the River Derwent.


Of course, I saw these flowers along the way.  Each one is about the size of a pea.



Over towards the next fell (I have to walk the tail around it on the right to get back) I could hear a Coo Coo.  A classic coo coo click sounds just like them!  And for all these years I just assumed it was a sound chosen because it was different and easily recognized.  Obviously our Brown Coocoo (I've seen them near home in Maryland) sound quite different.



Not much special on that trail out in the open, other than it was quiet.  Below is some rocks in the forest as I neared the end of the walk that are covered in moss.  Lot's of moss around here...


More moss covered walls.  I can't get enough of the beauty here.


The "river" Derwent.  Well, at least before it gets to the water also named for it.  Below the water it really is a river, albeit not a large one.


A simple rose...


The end of my walk is a crossing of stepping stones across the river.  Probably more useful on a wet day with more water flowing in the river.


Until next time...




Tuesday 8 July 2014

Levens Hall

5th June 2014

Levens Hall is another one of those British aristocracy homes that are open to the public.  Well, parts are anyway.  Suzanne and I decided we wanted to see the gardens; they are supposed to be the oldest continuous topiary gardens in the UK.




 Lots of strange shapes to all the bushes and trees.


 This little flower garden is lined with tiny little English boxwoods.  That's an idea I may have try at home...














 It was all very pretty and we loved walking amongst the flowers and topiary.  We both had lots of fun!






































This flower was on the lily pond.  I'd never really seen a real lily pond before.

These are stones marking the graves of the landowners' dogs over the last hundred years.





Until next time...







Saturday 5 July 2014

Local Walk

15th June 2014

It was a nice day and instead of heading off as I usually do along the River Bleng I instead ducked behind the Gosforth Hall Inn and headed up the Gosforth trail in the opposite direction.



Once past the homes I had to walk up the hill.  Very easy walk in the tall grass. 


The view from the top.  Those two houses on the right are just behind Gosforth Hall. 


 While it was nice in Gosforth, over to the south towards Scafell and Wastwater it looked a bit wet.


 I don't get enough of the fox gloves.  They grow everywhere.



Buttercups and purple grasses.  It looks much better in person!


Some wild roses along the way.


 There was bee on this but he flew off as I snapped...but the flowers are pretty anyway.


 Until next time...





Wednesday 2 July 2014

Monk's Bridge

6th June 2014

Monk's Bridge is located just north of the old Calder Abbey.  It's actually out on Cold Fell and crosses the Calder River along what once was an old pack horse trail to the Abbey.

Suzanne and I decided to make the short walk from the nearby fell road to check it out.



We walked along a stream down into the river's valley.  It quickly becomes very remote.


This is the river Calder, looking back towards our origin.



This is Monk's Bridge.  It's over 1,000 years old, and existed to support the Abbey with supplies via pack horses.  It's considered the oldest pack horse bridge in the UK. The fences are to ensure folks don't walk out onto it; though I have to say if it's withstood 1,000 years, it'll take my weight.


Another view, but from the river. 


A local ewe and her lamb.

Until next time...