Glenridding

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I suppose this could be a Monday walk, but I really just wanted to share my experience of Glenridding with you, before it fades like the leaves.  It’s many a long year since I spent a night in the Lake District, and I wanted to savour every moment.

If you walked with me this week you’ll know that after my visit to Aira Force the rain hit hard, and I was ‘forced’ to eat cream scones and bide my time.  I should maybe apologise if you were sitting in the Orangery.  Once the scones had disappeared I took to pacing up and down, waiting, not so patiently.  Lake Ullswater needed filling and was supremely disinterested in my desire to be out exploring, so I had to contain myself until morning. Very early morning, so it was really no surprise that I had Glenridding all to myself.

I was staying in a guest house immediately across the road from the lake

I was staying in a guest house immediately across the road from the lake

And the very first thing I spotted
Not one, but two Autumn benches for Jude!
You may have observed that it was rather misty!

You may have observed that it was rather misty!

But I was optimistic!

But I was optimistic!

And I could see the boats moored at the landing stage, beyond the trees.  Enough incentive to venture further.

I crossed the stream

I crossed the stream

Ad looked back at the sleepy village

And looked back at the sleepy village

The stream led down to the lake
Scurrying along!
Beside the beautiful trees
And there was the lake! Not much mountain though...

And there was the lake! Not much mountain to see though…

There's the steamer

But there’s the steamer

And two wonderfully curious swans

And two wonderfully curious swans

I imagined it to be brightening a little, and turned from the water’s edge to head back into the village.  I tucked my camera into the comfort of my pocket.  Mistake!  At just that moment the swans decided I was a tad boring and, with a graceful flurry of wing, lifted off from the lake’s surface and glided away to the distant shore.  I gazed after them, bereft!

Back to the village, which was just waking up

Back to the village, which was just waking up

I don’t think I’ve ever been anywhere with so many options for walking.  I saw at least 4 signs pointing out different routes, including one for Helvellyn.  Curiosity prevailed and I had to follow the latter a little way, finding a couple of pretty little cafes and a fine letterbox as I did.

I continued a little way along the trail, upsetting a little black dog in the privacy of his morning walk.  My shoes were totally inadequate for the task, and breakfast was calling.  Enough adventure for an early morning.  The rain began in earnest soon after I reached the guest house.

Back via the village 'green'

Back via the village ‘green’

I never did manage that steamer ride to Howtown and the walk back to Glenridding.  I guess that means I’ll have to go back another day.  Let’s look on the bright side- I did find a couple of Autumn benches for Jude.

111 comments

  3. Such a beautiful walk, Jo. All those autumnal leaves look so fresh and beautiful. It does look like a sleepy town indeed…but I suppose at some point someone had to get up and make breakfast. Hope breakfast was warm and comforting.

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  4. I always wondered what the Lake District might look like, and now I have an idea thanks to your wonderful pictures. Reminds me a little of the Finger Lakes area in upper New York State.

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  10. Oh, Jo, you brought back some great memories of the Lake District, mist and all. Too bad you had to suffer through all those scones and jam! I like misty places sometimes; they have such atmosphere to them. 🙂

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    1. I really do suffer for my readers, Cathy! It’s the least I can do, isn’t it? 🙂
      Thanks for your lovely company, darlin’. You must have another post up? I’ll pop over soon.

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      1. Yes, I can tell you do a lot of suffering, Jo! 🙂 I’m plodding slowly through my backlog of posts. I just posted on three blogs this week: another rice terrace day, another post on Bagan, and one on Chincoteague. Slowly, slowly. And Mike and I are going away this morning for a weekend in Shepherdstown, West Virginia for our 27th (or Mike argues it’s our 20th bc of our 7-year separation) anniversary. 🙂

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      3. We had a great time hiking all around the Antietam battlefields and staying at a nice bed and breakfast near Shepherdstown, West Virginia, Jo. The autumn color is fading fast, but we still have a little. Thanksgiving is coming soon! 🙂

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  12. A bench with a view! Don’t you love the Lakeland vistas, even in the mist and rain it has charm. Shame about the swans, but console yourself in the knowledge that in that light you probably wouldn’t have got a decent image of them in flight. It’s what I tell myself anyway 🙂 I hope the breakfast was good!

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    1. I’d have got an abysmal shot so it’s just as well. I need things to stand stock still and even then I can blur them 🙂 Brekkie was a self help out of the mini fridge because the lovely couple had children to ferry to schools in Keswick and Penrith every day! Not a problem- we’re not breakfast people. 🙂

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      1. I don’t do breakfast either other than coffee! I don’f function without my coffee. But I look forward to breakfast in the B&B when we stay in one, such a luxury and they usually get us through the day too 🙂

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      3. Oh, we would get on so well. We really do have to grab some time away, possibly with that Lucid Gypsy though now she has called us bonkers I am having second thoughts… 😉

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  19. I love misty early morning walks. Thank you for sharing yours. I enjoyed a beauty in Tasmania – walked around the lake before anyone stirred, and the mountain peaks unveiled for me briefly. Rainwalking’s a different matter – specs become waterfalls and I can’t see a thing. (And down the rain comes again here!)

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    1. More rain? We have gales blowing in here tomorrow as well as rain. Maybe even the ‘s’ word by Friday! 😦 I think I made it to the Lakes just in time. There certainly won’t be many leaves left!
      Solitary walks suit me very well, but I don’t get to indulge often. 🙂

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