LD 2012 (2)

From http://bvhill-walkers.blogspot.com/

Saturday started even better than had been forecast - blue skies all the way and not a breath of wind. It boded well for the walk, but I decided, in view of my funny turn yesterday, that it was best that I dip out of the day's walk and let the others march on unhindered. I would do my own thing - Ken told me about a low level walk to Ambleside and I agreed to meet up with them there.

I sat outside our hotel, reading the papers, and watched as they headed for the hills:

After a brief session in the steam room, I set off on my walk - along the riverside towards Dove Cottage (Wordsworth's home):

Walking on, I came to a nice, but fairly busy, lakeside beach:

There are a number of trails to Ambleside but I veered away from the lowest one and took the next level up initially. Eventually it brought me to a large, apparently naturally formed, cave, with handily placed stepping stones leading to the interior:

After this, the path I was on got fairly busy so I decided to climb further to get away from the crowds who were out on what remained a glorious day. I succeeded in finding my little wilderness - so much so that I completely lost any sign of trails for a while. I did get some lovely views on the way up and took several photos, including this panorama view:

I picked up the trails again and eventually headed back down to Ambleside to meet up with the 4 musketeers, who I later discovered were traversing a hill on the other side of the water - Stone Arther. Ken took a few photos, which can be viewed at https://picasaweb.google.com/113567438842510643299/LakesSeptember2012?locked=true&feat=email

The stats and route of my walk were:

Without me to hold them back, the boys had taken the opportunity to take on a slightly bigger challenge, apparently getting up to about 2,500 feet - a little higher than we had climbed the day before, and a lot higher than I felt I could manage today.

We met for beer at the Ambleside Tavern then all caught the bus back to Grasmere, stopping for a quick one at the Swan Hotel before showering and heading out to dinner.

We booked a taxi to take us to the well-known Drunken Duck, home of the Barngates microbrewery - http://drunkenduckinn.co.uk/. We hadn't realised what a lovely, upmarket pub it was - but there were no bar meals in the evening - only the restaurant, and it was fully booked. We were stuck out in a lovely spot in the middle of nowhere with not even the prospect of a taxi for at least an hour or more. What could we do but drink some of their lovely beer then seek directions to the nearest hostelry that could provide us with food. Mine host assured us the Outgate Inn was just a mile away and all downhill, so we set off in the gathering gloom, with bats swooping round our heads. It was certainly our fastest walk of the weekend.

Dinner then taxi back to Grasmere and a quick visit to see the (2-man) band playing in Tweedies Bar. They were OK - probably a better bet than the previously advertised Banjo Joe!

Prospects for the following day didn't good - but we would wait and see.