Category: Out and about

local adventures, non specific

Swimming on a cool & windy autumn day

Summer has definitely cleared of, but the desire to continue swimming in the Lakes hasn’t!

However the days of just going to the lake have gone as now I need to follow in the steps of my friends and organise my swims around my baby. So today this meant going with someone happy to look after Evie whilst I swam, and then swap!

You would think this happy little bundle wouldn’t mind me going for a dip, especially when she had Josie as a doting babysitter!

However, hopefully just a ‘stage’, but apparently she cried for most of the time I swam….

Back to shore and a very quick change (it’s got cold) before consoling an upset Evie whilst trying to warm up.

But once she realised I was back to stay it was all smiles again! We all squeezed in to the much needed pop up wind shelter (I think I need one of these in my life) for a picnic

And it was laughs and giggles once more

Then sadly time for home, what a lovely way to spend a day, getting stupidly cold and catching up with friends!

Knipe Scar- a locals gem

I have been going up Knipe Scar, from Bampton or Bampton Grange, since I was a little girl. It’s a great hill if you want one a small one to do when carrying a baby. It doesn’t take long to get up, yet you know you have done some exercise getting up it, and it has fantastic views from the top.

There are a number of ways to get to the top, but from the knipe road beyond Bampton Grange, this signpost takes you up a guaranteed wet path!

Its a fairly steep ascent towards the top, the path winds through the bracken to the left of the stone wall.

From the top you can see south to the Howgills, across to Haweswater and High Street and over to Blencathra in the distance (Scotland on a very clear day)

Once again Evie bean missed the glorious views!

The limestone scar on top is where you need to be careful that monsters don’t jump out of the cracks as you are playing on them!

There is also a stone circle up here, but didn’t have time on this day to go & see it.

Making it a circuit, you go down the steep side towards Knipe, then cross the Knipe road to the rather fun wibbly wobbly bridge (but be careful of the trolls that live in the pipes!)

Then back along the river to Bampton, which often has beautiful reflections to enjoy as you wander back along it .

The Marmalade March – 5 miles

Just did a lovely local walk today with Evie and mum, on paths I had never been on before. A loop you can do from either Dalemain House (the home of the Marmalade Festival held each March), or from Pooley Bridge.

5 miles of undulating terrain, through fields, a bit of road , some wood and some track. Nice if you want something gentle, but parts not buggyable.

We set off from Dalemain across the fields , where we had a surprisingly good view of Askham fell.

Past a small lake / big pond

Then down to the river, which we had a couple of lovely picnic (and swim) spots

As well as a large family of swans, with a highly successful brood of signets

Evie checked our route before continuing on our way

And then it was up a small hill through the Dunmallard woods

We made a stop off at Dacre Church, which is worth a small detour to visit, very pretty

It also has four bears in the graveyard (or possibly lions – the jury is out). Nobody knows the reason for their existence but they are very old.

Past Dacre castle

Some old and unusual stone gateposts

And bambi!

Before finishing off in the medieval cafe at Dalemain (you’ll have to visit there yourself as no photos allowed). I can recommend the Gluten Free lemon drizzle cake!!!