Tag: baby

Sale Fell – 31/07/18

Making the most of being in a different part of the Lakes, as we were headed to The Lakes Distillery for a very belated Christmas present, we decided to go up Sale Fell, as it was VERY windy! So a short walk fitted the bill nicely.

Evie is now big enough to go front facing in the sling when she is awake. More interesting for her but harder for me. I don’t know if she is happy or not… and she kicks me with her legs!!

It really was crazy windy on top!

But not particularly cold

And the views over Bassenthwaite were lovely….. but not as lovely as the afternoon tea at The Lakes Distillery!!

Happy belated Christmas mum!

Beda Fell – 26/07/18

One of those days with multiple work deadlines but too gorgeous not to! I really wanted for us to do the Beda – Place Fell round but ran out of time, so settled for just Beda Fell.

A blistering hot day, the sling and rucksack made for hot work as we clambered steeply upwards through a thick bracken little trod footpath. One on the ridge line life got easier.

Looking over Ullswater and back at Hallin Fell, the views are stunning as soon as you have climbed a short distance up. Even the sheep like taking them in!

it took longer than I anticipated to get to the summit, and despite the heat was a bit breezy on the very top, so we dropped a bit for lunch.

The colours at this time of years were gorgeous up here, all tiny little Fell plants that made a beautiful fellside.

Then time for the grassy descent down and walk back along the Martindale valley where Evie chilled out on the grass whilst I had a quick dip in the river to wash off and cool off!

Blencathra 09/07/18

One of my all time favourites, I decided it was time to take Evie up Blencathra for a picnic!!

Going up from Scales it’s never an easy start out of the car park going straight uphill. So paused for a cute picture

We got to the summit but Evie was still sleeping so I decided to walk along the saddle to Knowe Crags.

Evie then woke up so we did some tummy time!! This allowed Evie to take in the view!

Took a selfie!!

Then after the picnic headed down via Scales Tarn as it looked so beautiful!

Another gorgeous day for a walk.

High Rigg – 15/06/18

A blustery day meant a low(ish) level walk was desirable, so Lou & me decided on High Rigg.

Parking near the church up St Johns-in-the-vale there is very little up, so it didn’t take long to reach our summit!

There are still lovely views from this peak

Then it’s quite a rocky descent down the far side of the Rigg. So need to be careful underfoot (especially when you can’t see your feet!).

After that it’s a flatish path along the base of the Rigg, although somehow I managed a big trip on the flat section. This then required a stop in a conveniently placed friendly family run cafe to soothe Evie, before heading along the path back to the car.

A glorious October day

We woke to a beautiful sunrise and a forecasted amazing day.

How to make the most of it (apart from drying 3 loads of washing?!).

I decided to get out the bike and Chariot and cycle us to Penrith to get the food shopping and, most importantly, take Evie to Rattle and Drum, a session she seems to love.

Even better, whilst I was enjoying the biking and the colours, she had two good morning sleeps!

Then (after more washing), I met up with Jess and her Osh, and we walked along Haweswater to the Forces.

We had a nice picnic and I believe the bubas enjoy each other’s company, Evie slightly frustrated that she can’t yet walk to chase Osh around. A great place to enjoy the autumn colours and listen to the deer rutting.

Then onwards, we said bye to Jess & Osh and Tim came and met us at Pooley Bridge for an amazing sunset.

He and Evie chilled

I swam (brrrrr – getting cold in there)

And then after a lot of excitement in one day, it was time for home, bath and tea!

Haweswater lakeside path

With just a couple of hours to get some fresh air and not the weather for going up, the path along Haweswater from Burnbanks often hits the spot. And at this time of year the colours are beautiful even when the weather isn’t!

All prepped in warmth and waterproof, we are now very much into using the rucksack

However, I’m finding I need to use different muscles (my glutes +++) to the sling so we are steadily building back up again with distance and inclines. This path is again perfect for that, as it gently undulates with beautiful views.

Today we only went to a bit beyond the forces

Enough to see the tops were in cloud anyway (always makes turning around easier!)

And home for tea as we now need to think about actual food for Evie….. life is moving on too rapidly!

Foraging the hedgerows

It’s all about timing!

I did well on timing the foraging outing on the bike with Evie’s sleep. I did badly (by at least two weeks) of timing the fruit picking. The rosehips are softening and I only found a handful of blackberries.

We started out and took every opportunity to pick fruit, meaning that Evie could help with the rosehips and elderberries!

Then with the eye rubbing, it was time to tuck her up and do some cycling to get her to sleep

Continuing along the way, the bushes were abundant in elderberries and crab apples

The Chariot was useful for carrying the jam pan to collect the fruit in, in the ‘boot’ with the nappy change bag!

Though the wind was strong, the views were gorgeous. Definitely feeling autumnal

Quite tired when I got home, well timed as Evie woke up!! Ready to make the hedgerow jelly jam when I get a spare moment!

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!!!