a week in the lake district
The Lake District National Park has been one of my happy places for a good number of years, here are some highlights from my recent visit.
pencil museum
The pencil museum is a must do. I've been telling the family this for many years, but until this week we haven't managed to visit.
a pencil is your ticket
The general consensus is that it was more interesting than predicted. When you arrive you receive a pencil as your ticket to the museum and a quiz sheet with promises of prizes for correct answers.
Random (pencil based) facts I learned:
The pencil was invented in Borrowdale in the lakes, one of those accidental discoveries, mainly as the graphite wouldn't burn but did leave marks on things.
Pencils never had lead in them. It was the name used to describe the writing bit because it looked like lead - it has always been graphite.
The term 'black market' comes from a time graphite was more valuable than gold and was often liberated by smugglers. Unfortunately, you were easily identified by your black, graphite stained, hands.
Our prize for completing the quiz? More pencils!
wansfell pike
I much prefer walks we can start from our accommodation, makes for a car free day. This 6 mile walk took us up past Stockghyll Force waterfall, up to Wansfell Pike, back down via Hundreds Lane and back home through Skelghyll Wood. Lots of different scenery, and no wind. Lots of lambs.
hope you didn’t run there on a Tuesday
dove cottage
The home of William Wordsworth from 1799 to 1808. Not a big poetry fan, but it was very interesting to see how things changed in the period and how people lived in the area. Wordsworth absolutely nailed the weather...
The rain here comes down heartily. William Wordsworth, A Description of the Scenery of the Lakes in the North of England, 1822.
The ticket lasts for a year so plan to return to explore more, especially the gardens and local woodland when the weather is more pleasant.
borrowdale
Possibly one of my favourite places to walk, plenty of different views and terrain, takes in part of the Cumbria way and an excellent lunch spot by the river where you may spot Kingfisher.
View on the Cumbria Way alongside Castle Crag. Derwent Water in far distance.
The route is about 4.5 miles long, suitable for all and I think gives a really good impression of the Lake District, link to the route below.
Top tip: the flock inn cafe towards the end of the walk is worth a stop for the Borrowdale tea loaf - and if you are there at the right time of year there will be oodles of lambs in the neighbouring fields.
can never get lambs to look the right way
one final thing
We found that the Apple weather app was notoriously wrong most of the time, much better was the met office app - it can be found on both Apple and android app stores.