Distance: 13 miles
Weather: warm and sunny
Critters seen: sheep and cows, bunnies, goats, butterflies (mostly white / white with orange wing tips), puddle ducks, mallards and fuzzy ducklings, and a buzzard being harrassed by a crow. There were a lot of crows, and some chaffinches, and a woodpecker (although that might have been yesterday.)
We left the youth hostel at 9ish and crossed some fields (more little lambs) passed a row of incredibly big trees. Following the track through the farm, we met three very friendly dogs and had a bit of a wander through a cow field while trying to find the right gate. A stall promised homemade cakes but there was only water and juice for sale, which we didn't really need.
Through a few more cow and sheep fields, and we were entering bunny central on the way up to Orrest Head. The views over Windermere are very impressive, and as such a big draw for Lake District holidaymakers - which came as a bit of a shock after the quietness of the route we had come up by. We had a rest on one of the benches at the viewpoint, and appeased the Easter Bunny by eating some Mini Eggs.
A windy track leads from Orrest Head down into Windermere, where there were some very busy roads to be crossed and then the railway. First lunch was had on School Knott, and then we were soon joining the Dales Way. The big hills of the Lakes were now well behind us, but the countryside is just so pretty, with hillocky grassy, fields with stone walls, gorse bushes and sticky up rocks everywhere.
Afternoon tea was had in Staveley, which is a strange little place, that seemed deas until you get aroung to the Lakeland Brewery and then it was heaving. Wilf's Cafe overlooking the river provided tea, chocoloate brownie and ginger and chocolate poundcake. We followed the River Kent into Burneside where after not a little wandering the streets we found and were made very welcome at the Jolly Anglers Inn. The ginger theme was continued (by Rob) with a few pints of Ginger Tom beer (I had Cumberland Ale) along with cumberland sausage, yorkshire pudding, onion gravy and chips. Nom.
No comments:
Post a Comment