Swallows and Amazons! (or a midweek break in the Lake District)
May 22nd, 2015, 04:59 AM
#63
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Friday
It’s always hard to end a holiday, but it’s a hundred times worse when the sky is an endless expanse of blue, not a cloud in sight, the sun is glittering like gold on the water, and you know you are going to have to trade in your brand spanking new Audi for a 7 year SEAT Ibiza with 110k on the clock.
We’d tidied up and packed the night before, so all that remained was to have a quick breakfast of tea and yoghurt, load the cases into their respective cars and bid farewell. Tommy sent me off with a surprise box of Scottish tablet, but the aww factor of this was lessened somewhat when I found he’d also left his nasty grapefruit and nutrasweet soda half drunk in one of the cupholders of my car!
Every cloud has a silver lining though - as I detoured to Pooley Bridge to find a bin, I also got the chance to take a few photos of the beautiful Duke of Portland boathouse on the outksirts of the town in the blazing sunshine – these are the very last shots in my photo gallery.
Au revoir Lake District – we will be back!
It’s always hard to end a holiday, but it’s a hundred times worse when the sky is an endless expanse of blue, not a cloud in sight, the sun is glittering like gold on the water, and you know you are going to have to trade in your brand spanking new Audi for a 7 year SEAT Ibiza with 110k on the clock.
We’d tidied up and packed the night before, so all that remained was to have a quick breakfast of tea and yoghurt, load the cases into their respective cars and bid farewell. Tommy sent me off with a surprise box of Scottish tablet, but the aww factor of this was lessened somewhat when I found he’d also left his nasty grapefruit and nutrasweet soda half drunk in one of the cupholders of my car!
Every cloud has a silver lining though - as I detoured to Pooley Bridge to find a bin, I also got the chance to take a few photos of the beautiful Duke of Portland boathouse on the outksirts of the town in the blazing sunshine – these are the very last shots in my photo gallery.
Au revoir Lake District – we will be back!
May 22nd, 2015, 09:32 AM
#69
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I definitely want to go back Gertie - still want to see the more westerly bits like Buttermere and Ennerdale, and do some more walking - apparently Glenridding to Howtown is a great route, and there are a ton of waterfalls in my little book.
Would like to do some wild swimming as well - it was too early in the year this time but Black Moss Pot looks great for that.
Foodwise, there are a number of highly rated eateries in the region - and it feels like slightly unfinished business with the afternoon tea
Maybe The Samling for that next time. Or if short of pennies just a cumberland sausage sandwiches on a picnic instead....
Would like to do some wild swimming as well - it was too early in the year this time but Black Moss Pot looks great for that.
Foodwise, there are a number of highly rated eateries in the region - and it feels like slightly unfinished business with the afternoon tea
Maybe The Samling for that next time. Or if short of pennies just a cumberland sausage sandwiches on a picnic instead....
May 22nd, 2015, 10:04 AM
#70
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you were just a swim away from a posh afternoon tea
http://www.sharrowbay.co.uk
you may have even seen it on the opposite bank
http://www.sharrowbay.co.uk
you may have even seen it on the opposite bank
May 22nd, 2015, 10:58 AM
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Samling was beautiful some years ago but I think it closed to the public and concentrated on private parties. It may have changed its model again, if so : yes, beautiful property.
Great report! Love the photos!
There''s a stunning walk from Buttermere. Park the car at the Fish Inn, walk by the lake to the base of Haystacks. Up Haystacks, along the ridge to Ride Pike and back down to the Fish for lunch/ dinner.p
There are beautiful views to Pillar, Great Gable, down Ennerdale and over us I Scotland. Pick a sunny day as the cloud closes in and ruins everything!
The very ambitious can do Great Gable from Haystacks, that's a long day though. Spectacular views down Wasdale from here.
If you are up again try,
http://www.the-pheasant.co.uk/
it's very old England country gent place but the food is great
Lyzzick Hall is Spanish owned and the restaurant, which is open to the public offers, Spanish country cooking to the highest standard.
Someone posted above about the ice cream producers and their failure due to bad weather in summer. We have a tourist business, its been a diabolical Spring and early summer, it was very chilling to read how others have suffered due to the average Brits inability to cope with a bit of rain.
Great report! Love the photos!
There''s a stunning walk from Buttermere. Park the car at the Fish Inn, walk by the lake to the base of Haystacks. Up Haystacks, along the ridge to Ride Pike and back down to the Fish for lunch/ dinner.p
There are beautiful views to Pillar, Great Gable, down Ennerdale and over us I Scotland. Pick a sunny day as the cloud closes in and ruins everything!
The very ambitious can do Great Gable from Haystacks, that's a long day though. Spectacular views down Wasdale from here.
If you are up again try,
http://www.the-pheasant.co.uk/
it's very old England country gent place but the food is great
Lyzzick Hall is Spanish owned and the restaurant, which is open to the public offers, Spanish country cooking to the highest standard.
Someone posted above about the ice cream producers and their failure due to bad weather in summer. We have a tourist business, its been a diabolical Spring and early summer, it was very chilling to read how others have suffered due to the average Brits inability to cope with a bit of rain.
May 26th, 2015, 07:06 AM
#74
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ooo The Pheasant looks lovely. Anywhere that does dark chocolate terrine with sour cherry ice cream gets my vote.
Btw, watched 'Sightseers' again last night to get a lakes fix and I think they camp by Bassenthwaite at one point...
Btw, watched 'Sightseers' again last night to get a lakes fix and I think they camp by Bassenthwaite at one point...
May 26th, 2015, 08:27 AM
#77
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Anyone in the area should really try to stop at Rheged. The National Planning Board ensured that very well hidden with the intention of the building not be obtrusive.
Unfortunately, this means it's not seen from the A66 / M6 junction.
Inside there are many great eating areas, cafes and the usual walking shops.
The Deli stocks much of the the high end food produced by local farms.
Westmorland Service station on the M6 is also worth a visit. It is privately owned by a local farm and is very different to the usual Moto rubbish. Definitely no McDs here, again again it has a great cafe/ Deli which sources local produce.
It is just north of the Tebay junction.
Unfortunately, this means it's not seen from the A66 / M6 junction.
Inside there are many great eating areas, cafes and the usual walking shops.
The Deli stocks much of the the high end food produced by local farms.
Westmorland Service station on the M6 is also worth a visit. It is privately owned by a local farm and is very different to the usual Moto rubbish. Definitely no McDs here, again again it has a great cafe/ Deli which sources local produce.
It is just north of the Tebay junction.
May 26th, 2015, 12:37 PM
#78
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The Moto services are depressingly samey. Costa - usually a full café, plus numerous 'express' stalls plonked at every exit or junction, an M&S where everything is four times the price of the high street, a cashpoint that charges you a weeks wages to get a fiver out, and toilets with those amusement arcade cranes in the corridor leading to them - why???
If I was in charge it would be all churro stalls, hog roasts, Caffé Nero, free back neck and shoulder massages, and Jo Malone smellies in the bogs.
If I was in charge it would be all churro stalls, hog roasts, Caffé Nero, free back neck and shoulder massages, and Jo Malone smellies in the bogs.
May 26th, 2015, 02:41 PM
#79
RM67 - on a trip to Austria a few years ago we came across a service station [which is apparently part of a train] that greeted us with a display of 30 different things to do with strawberries [the fruit that happened to be in season], an oyster bar, a smoothie bar offering numerous variations, load of fresh and interesting hot and cold dishes, magnificent salads and its own vegetable patch.
we really didn't want to leave.
we really didn't want to leave.
