In dreams I walk with yous.......
My wife assures me that "yous" as the plural of the pronoun "you" is peculiar to the North East of England. I would not have used it in lesser sophisticated Lancashire, pain of death etc..
The UK is still in lockdown, National Parks have asked people to stay away, quite rightly fearing city dwellers will bring the virus with them as they tramp the tourist areas.
So a full team of gadgies is off to the English Lakes today, the hilly home of poets like Wordsworth who, incidentally, was not keen on visitors to hios beloved north western paradise either. Perhaps he feared the tramping down of his daffodils.
Another perfect walking day, sunny, warm with a gentle breeze.
Our walk starts in Rosthwaite, a village almost atb the bottom of Borrowdale. From base take the A69 west, M6 south, A66 west and at a large roundabout just beyond Keswick follow the signpost.
As you reach Rosthwaite turn right down a lane to Yew Tree Farm. There are two car parks, the first is a National Trust property, free if you have a membership card to display. The second one is in front of the village hall and relies on donations paid into a box.
For breakfast there is a choice of several cafes in Keswick, we usually use the Coffee Lounge which is in the first car park you come to in the town or having parked in Rosthwaite walk a short distance to the farm and opposite is the Flock Inn, small but very friendly and it also sells meat from the Herdwick sheep that are familiar in the Lake District.
National Trust car park in Rosthwaite. There is a comfort station close by!
If you want a short walk in the Lakes without climbing one of the higher peaks this is ideal, 6 miles tops with only a couple of short steep ascents.
A map is useful: OS OL 4bThe English Lakes, North West Area.
Once fed, watered and booted we set off. Back down the lane to the village, turn left and almost immediately cross the road and turn right on the road that goes to Hazel Bank.
Contains OS data, copyright. Crown copyright and database right 2020.
And a few more pictures of the day.
My wife assures me that "yous" as the plural of the pronoun "you" is peculiar to the North East of England. I would not have used it in lesser sophisticated Lancashire, pain of death etc..
The UK is still in lockdown, National Parks have asked people to stay away, quite rightly fearing city dwellers will bring the virus with them as they tramp the tourist areas.
So a full team of gadgies is off to the English Lakes today, the hilly home of poets like Wordsworth who, incidentally, was not keen on visitors to hios beloved north western paradise either. Perhaps he feared the tramping down of his daffodils.
Another perfect walking day, sunny, warm with a gentle breeze.
Our walk starts in Rosthwaite, a village almost atb the bottom of Borrowdale. From base take the A69 west, M6 south, A66 west and at a large roundabout just beyond Keswick follow the signpost.
As you reach Rosthwaite turn right down a lane to Yew Tree Farm. There are two car parks, the first is a National Trust property, free if you have a membership card to display. The second one is in front of the village hall and relies on donations paid into a box.
For breakfast there is a choice of several cafes in Keswick, we usually use the Coffee Lounge which is in the first car park you come to in the town or having parked in Rosthwaite walk a short distance to the farm and opposite is the Flock Inn, small but very friendly and it also sells meat from the Herdwick sheep that are familiar in the Lake District.
If you want a short walk in the Lakes without climbing one of the higher peaks this is ideal, 6 miles tops with only a couple of short steep ascents.
A map is useful: OS OL 4bThe English Lakes, North West Area.
Once fed, watered and booted we set off. Back down the lane to the village, turn left and almost immediately cross the road and turn right on the road that goes to Hazel Bank.
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Cross the Stonethwite Beck and follow the track to Hazel Bank.
Once beyond the Hazel Bank Hotel the footpath goes alongside a stream before starting a fairly step climb through woodland. Half way up the hill is the very sensibly named Resting Stone, beyond that the path starts to descend towards Watendlath, passing Puddingstone Bank and following Bowdergate Gill for a while before heading to the farm at Watendlath.
Watendlath Farm.
There is a minor road from further north up the valley which will bring those who can't or won't walk to the farm. At the farm there is a tea room and it is possible to fish in the tarn itself. Watendlath is Old English for "the barn at the end of the lake" and it is a beautiful little spot. Take care if you picnic here though, sheep dogs have a habit of creeping up on you and pinching a sandwich.
Hugh Walpole, English author wrote some of his "Herries " books either at the farm or based on the area. Can't remember but there is a plaque recording his stay.
Another view of the farm, tarn and tea room. (tarn is a northern word for a small lake)
Having admired the farm and tarn we headed south on a track close to the water, watching a couple of men fishing from boats. The track morphed into a footpath across fields and then onto open moorland which can be boggy at times. Not today, conditions are perfect!
There are several footpaths walkers can follow across the open ground, we took the one east of Great Crag, climbing a little, until we reached Dock Tarn. The footpath runs close to the edge of the tarn and the banks are rocky, they act as good seats so we called a Herbie, sitting watching the birds on the water and enjoying the usual contributions. There weren't many birds, mallards of course, which live on any stretch of water no matter how small.
Sitting on the Tarn of the Dock; Ginger biscuits, flapjacks, almond slices, cheese scones from Mrs A. and the newly discovered Skinny Whips, chocolate and cream.
Having admired the farm and tarn we headed south on a track close to the water, watching a couple of men fishing from boats. The track morphed into a footpath across fields and then onto open moorland which can be boggy at times. Not today, conditions are perfect!
There are several footpaths walkers can follow across the open ground, we took the one east of Great Crag, climbing a little, until we reached Dock Tarn. The footpath runs close to the edge of the tarn and the banks are rocky, they act as good seats so we called a Herbie, sitting watching the birds on the water and enjoying the usual contributions. There weren't many birds, mallards of course, which live on any stretch of water no matter how small.
Sitting on the Tarn of the Dock; Ginger biscuits, flapjacks, almond slices, cheese scones from Mrs A. and the newly discovered Skinny Whips, chocolate and cream.
A view of the tarn and the top of a baseball cap.
Lunch over we continued on the footpath south west between High and White Crags to Lingy End.
The stile builder's art. I prefer the stone variety, they can be slippy but I'm a traditionalist.
At Liggy End the footpath enters a wood and the path down to Stonethwaite Beck is steep, take care in winter but perfect today of course.
Path through the wood going down to Stonethwaite Beck. (Beck: northern word for stream or brook)
Having reached the beck we headed northwest on the Cumbrian Way on the east side of the water. The alternative (and there is only one!) is to cross the beck at Stonethwaite Bridge and follow the road back to Rosthwaite. The Cumbrian Way is much prettier, crossing fields and keeping close to the beck before reaching Hazel Bank again, crossing the bridge and returning to the car park.
On the way home we stopped to rehydrate at The Shepherd Inn, Langwathby. It had a fine selection of real ales and coffee for the drivers.
A short walk but a favourite, but today only in dreams. (Thanks Big O)
And a few more pictures of the day.
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