Tag: Lake District

Small water walk and swim – 13/08/19

A walk that I did many many times as a toddler and child, it was lovely to take Evie to small water just as she is starting to want to walk.

This time she was happy to stay in the pack for the way up, meaning we got up there with time to spare. Good job as there was an alternative motive as well.

Evie munched some food as both her mummy and her Omi had moments of madness, and on this wet and windy day, went for a dip in the Tarn.

Evie watched on, and then we went for an explore to the sheep houses!

Wellies that fit today made splashing in puddles much easier!! Great fun when the puddles were almost rivers!

Then Bean surprises up both by walking all the way down back the the car (with the odd 1-2-3 swing and occasional carry).

So after all that walking, jumping and splashing she should definitely be tired. I don’t think it made a jot of difference – bedtime came no earlier!

Bowscale Tarn for an evening stroll – 14/08/19

On a cloudy August evening, fed up of being stuck inside after some wet days, we packed a post-work picnic a set off for a walk.

It wasn’t long before Evie wanted out of the rucksack and to join in on some walking action!!

And along with walking came serious rock climbing!

Far too difficult in big wellies – much easier to tackle in socks….

After a good bit of time, and a few protests to being carried to speed the process up, we finally made it to the lovely Bowscale Tarn for our picnic and evening swim.

A refreshing dip for me and a paddle for Omi & Evie

It made a lovely reflection on the water which was even better in the water….

Quite late (past bedtime – what’s that?) we started our descent. Evie really wanted to walk and play on each and every rock. It was a long walk down!!

But eventually the pack summoned and Evie was ready and it was time for going home to bed.

Down at the lake – July 2019

We had a week where after work the weather was so nice that routine was let go and we headed down to Ullswater for some lake fun

One evening was paddling, stone throwing (a swim for mummy) and an unsuccessful picnic; too much going on to want to eat!

Then we had our first venture out solo on the paddle board – not so sure at first – we kept super shallow.

But then Evie settled happily into it so long as she was securely wrapped in my legs!

Hopefully the first of many paddle board adventures to come!

High Pike – 14/07/19

A walk out in a different part of the Lakes, we set off up the old mine tracks from Caldbeck Common towards High Pike, with a loaded backpack of Evie Bean and her friends!

It’s not long before Bean decides that today she wants to walk! So walk a while she does, before another short spell in the pack.

Despite it not being a particularly long walk, we have another stop before the summit for lunch and more play.

Evie practices her Nordic walking…

And then she falls to sleep for the summit!!

But awake again by the time we get back to the car, and playful…. come on Evie, it’s time to go home

31st August – Another Waynwrights Day

Supporting a local charity ‘Another Way’, Aimee at promoting sustainable living, the 31st August had been in the diary for a long time to walk to the summit of and to teach Pilates on the summit. The aim being to get people doing an activity on the top of every summit and to write their environmental or sustainable living pledge.

Evie got herself and her bag ready for the big day out. The rain cover is already on as it is set to be vile weather!

We have a super turn out for our fell and a very good mix of ages.

After walking up in mainly rain we get to this mildly sheltered spot, the rain stops, the sun makes a small appearance and so we make a group decision that this is a good place for a spot of Pilates!

Evie decides its a good time for a sleep whilst I teach!

Because the weather seems to be fairing up we cut the Pilates short and decide to do more on the summit as per the original plan.

Ha – plan foiled by horrid weather. We instead end up inside of two storm shelters on top so that we at very least write our pledges on the summit! Evie is amazingly still asleep despite the phenomenal noise in the storm shelter from the wind.

She does of course wake on the descent and does some good walking back down the Fell. Well timed as the rain does finally seem to be stopping.

Evie goes to hitch a lift with one of the two really amazing participants of our group who cycled to and from the start in the rain and wind.

Time for a warm up and chat with tea and soup in the Mosedale Quaker House tea room.

Well done all for turning up and making the effort to summit in such terrible weather – and to Evie for having a good sleep in her rucksack shelter!

Red Pike 26-06-19

A hot hot day for a walk and not quite as planned (missing the friends we arranged to walk with), we set off for Bleaberry tarn and Red Pike.

The path is steep and unrelenting from the outset, but at least the first bit was in forest.

Once out of the forest the views are beautiful but in the heat the incline was tough.

Stopping for some lunch at Bleaberry Tarn and for Evie to have a run around. I would have been amazing to jump in, but not possible yet when we are on our own and she is still just 15 months.

Evie decides its her turn to use the poles to walk!

Finally packing up, I made the decision to continue heading up for the summit.

Leaving Bleaberry Tarn behind it is another steep climb, starting out on manageable steps. Close to the top this turns to loose scree and on more than one occasion I was very close to turning around.

After a lot of scrambling and a huge amount of care we did eventually make the top. Having gained all this height it seemed a shame to turn around and head straight down. But we had arranged to meet daddy at Greystoke Pool for a swim, so turnaround we did.

Eventually time for Evie to have her afternoon snooze whilst I took the steep descent carefully back down the hill. We both dreamt of the refreshing waters of the pool!

High Seat and High Tove 09/06/19

Setting off from Watendleth it was a steepish start to the walk, but a good path…. to begin with…

Soon into the land of cotton grass, which is very pretty but a sign of what was to come.

Passing the cairn to mark High Tove

Then the landscape got wet. At this pointer we’re still trying to keep our feet dry!

Over this style and then gave up on dry feet!

Finally after lots of trogging through big, we got to the summit, which suddenly get windy and cold!

Evie set off down the track on the way back – until it got too wet underfoot – or overfoot!

Finally back onto a dry path with these pretty little wild flowers amongst the stones.Typical – almost back at the car and Evie decides its time for a sleep!Still, great view to enjoy for us whilst she has a snooze.

A day out around Buttermere 10/05/19

With our friend Winter to stay for a few days, what better place to take her than back to the beautiful bluebells at Rannerdale. A visit to there on this cold May Day seemed a great way to spend an otherwise grey day.

Although Evie was tired and not looking best pleased here, at least this time it wasn’t raining and the blossoms were out which were really beautiful.From there we drove back to Buttermere, had some lunch, and then set off for a walk along the lake path around Buttermere.

Stopping for the odd moment to take in the view, it’s a truely beautiful place.

Also we had a moment of human kindness – a man who we passed in the opposite direction a few minutes previous, was suddenly running back to us carrying one of Evie’s BOGS (wellies). He passed it to us saying it was too cute to leave on the ground, then ran back to his friends. How lovely.

I just had to include a picture of these sheep with their amazing red fringes.

Then finishing the day by sharing an ice cream from Sykes Farm, some of the best homemade ice-cream around the Lakes for sure!

Strangely the ice-cream made Evie really happy!!

Lowther Castle playground

A birthday present for Evie’s 1st birthday is a pass to Lowther Park, as friends informed us that it has a fabulous playground for kids – from toddlers up.

We have already made a couple of visits, sometimes with friends, sometimes on our own.

For a picnic on a nice day, Lowther Castle does make for a great backdrop.

There is also LOTS of space for kids to run around, and as Evie gets older, to bike around.

After our picnic we headed to the playground and I was immediately impressed.

With a toddler area, there were some slides that Evie could manage independently and a baby zip wire which she loved.

Swings

And a sandpit….

Never mind the endless ramps to run around and explore…

I think this place could keep us busy with fun packed hours for years yet.

More fun at Lowther – 1st Sep

Lowther is becoming one of our regulars for its playground, ease, cafe…. but we hadn’t previously actually explored the castle.

It took over an hour and a lot of cajoling just to get through the entrance, as the gatehouse was so much fun!

And then there were benches to walk on….

And enormous old rooms to explore!

Then finally we buckled up and went to find the slides and swings for the fun to continue!

Lowther fireworks

Here we are at Lowther Castle, all beautifully lit up for their fireworks display.

We walk ‘the loop’ where the trees are lit up beautifully

And Evie can follow the string of lights all the way round!

The fireworks were truely impressive and they lit the castle up even more. Although not included in our passes, it was well worth the money.

We meet Oliver, who looks mildly scary lit up like this!

The little house is just as enticing in the dark to Evie and Oliver as it is in the daytime – we struggle to get them to keep walking on from here!

Having a bit of a boogie – some good music playing whilst the fireworks not happening.

Definitely one to consider, was far better than anticipated.

Rannerdale bluebells

After a fun swim session and a lovely cafe lunch (picnic aborted due to pouring rain!), where there was fun to be had on an old trike Evie, Sam, Paula and me set of on a very short walk to see the gorgeous Rannerdale bluebells.

Not quite the weather or light for stunning bluebell photography, but dressed in waterproofs and BOGS, Evie and Sam had great fun splashing in all the puddles and wading back and forth through the massive river (small stream).

They spent a little time taking in the beauty of it all to

They even obliged us for a moment, for a photograph in the pretty bluebells.

Once all nicely wet it was time to get into dry kit back at the car and head home .

Dale Head and Hindscarth

Setting off later than planned (as always), I picked this walk as I was hoping to meet Evie’s Auntie Imo on the tops, who was doing a Fell race in the opposite direction to our walk.

A combination of the start time, a very long walk in, and a very steep and therefore slow ascent, meant we didn’t see her. But we did have a lovely day!

Parking in an obscure layby by Birkrigg Farm, we set off through fields on a beautiful warm Easter weekend day. Up a long track until we came to the path that veered off to the right over the stream.

I looked at the stepping stones but didn’t fancy them with a weighty pack on my back, so went for a mildly wet feet river crossing instead.

From that point onwards the uphil was relentless. And because the walk in had taken longer than predicted, by 2/3 of the way up we were both ready for our lunch.

So Evie had a good leg stretch before we were back in the pack up to the summit of Dale Head.

Time for another run around whilst I enjoyed the view.

The next question was Hindscarth, Robinson, both, or straight back down? Having missed Auntie on the top, we didn’t want to miss her completely before she and Sam went home again.

After much indecision we plugged for Hindscarth, making the most of being up high! To do Robinson as well was quite a drop and climb again. And the hours were ticking by.

So on up to Hindscarth and a quick break from the pack for both of us.

Coming down the Hindscarth ridge was not easy with a pack on. Quite a few rocky scrambles meant that the decent took considerably longer than anticipated.

So lots of singing later we finally made the bottom, but we needed a second picnic snack stop and further Evie pack break.

Once over it was an pleasant walk back through the fields, past the lambs, and a gorgeous bank of primroses, to the car.

Time to get to the pub to meet the others and enjoy a well deserved tea!