Walking. Gossip. Travel.

Category: Lake District

  • Lake District Week – Bulls in Field

    Lake District Week – Bulls in Field

    [I originally posted this in September 2018, but I’ve reposted it to fix the broken image links]

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    So there we were earlier, happily walking around a lake and then we find this. A rampaging bull charging towards us, risking our lives. I admit, it wasn’t actually a bull, but it was the same sort of size. And it wasn’t rampaging, although it could have done. And it wasn’t charging, but, it looked angry.

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    I rushed off and just left people behind. I’m brave, but not stupid… I’m not letting these huge wild animals threaten me if I can avoid it…

  • Lake District Week – How the Other Half Live

    Lake District Week – How the Other Half Live

    [I posted this in September 2018, but have reposted it to fix the broken image link]

    I’m just waiting for the photos from today’s walk to upload, so in the mean-time I just wanted to note Gordon’s accommodation. He’s paying the most out of any of us, but as he noted this evening, “I’ve been diddled”.

    For some reason he has some protective covering on his single bed (the fact that it is a single bed has not pleased him) which meant that he didn’t get much sleep last night because of the heat. Or, to be precise, absolutely no sleep at all. He did though snatch a few minutes sleep in the car on the way to the walk, so he did get some rest for today’s walk.

    Gordon also planned ahead and acquired a sandwich container to put his sandwiches in. Just a slight problem that his hotel has refused to make him any.

    But, he has been very brave about the whole day. Despite his lack of sleep, he powered on like a trojan, letting nothing get him down. Other than the rain and the walk itself. And he now has earplugs, so I’m confident that he’ll get a good night’s sleep tonight.

    I’m writing this from my room with a lovely double bed, quiet environment and temperature control. But, as people who know me will admit, I’m the last person to comment on such things. But I’m eagerly awaiting news tomorrow morning of how he gets on tonight…..

  • Lake District Week – Keswick Market Square

    Lake District Week – Keswick Market Square

    [I originally posted this in September 2018, but I’ve reposted it to fix the broken image link]

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    This is at the entrance to Keswick Market Square, how lovely.

  • Lake District Week – The Chief Justice of the Common Pleas (Keswick Wetherspoons)

    Lake District Week – The Chief Justice of the Common Pleas (Keswick Wetherspoons)

    [I originally posted this in September 2018, but have reposted it to fix the broken image links]

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    Last time I was in Keswick, this Wetherspoons was just about to open. Indeed it opened the day after we left, which wasn’t the greatest timing…. But the building is of historic interest itself, a primarily Victorian court-room (well, 1901, but near enough) and police station, with attached cells. The judicial complex of buildings was built on the site of the town’s former workhouse, so it’s had a rather miserable existence in many ways. It’s now a substantial pub and it presented an ideal place for us to visit on our first night in Keswick.

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    Initially it was just Steve and I at the pub. There’s a back story to that, but it involves Gordon and Maggie saying they were in Wetherspoons and then not actually being in Wetherspoons, they were standing outside Steve’s accommodation. So, since it was just Steve and I, I thought I’d buy a round. But just in time, and much to my irritation, Gordon and Maggie turn up at the bar, hence making my round more expensive. But I didn’t complain. Well, not audibly. Anyway, I digress….

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    Steve and Gordon doing some head shots in one of the former cells.

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    The former cell, and we had someone turn up later on who said that he spent a night in the cell in the early 1980s. I’m not sure that he was joking….

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    This reminded us of someone….

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    Now, this was good, a nice rich flavour.

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    Sarah, Steve M and Dave were arriving a bit later on, and I absolutely insisted that we wait until they got there until we ordered food. But Dave said we should order. So I did. But I only had a little starter, as I’m not greedy.

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    The former court room.

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    How lovely.

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    Gordon ordered the most expensive thing on the menu….

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    The door to our little cell….

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    The group altogether! And there was a wave of gossip when Steve M, Dave and Sarah arrived. I must admit, their car journey sounds extreme, they were talking about all manner of subjects that I can’t possibly repeat on this blog…..

    I was keen to visit this pub given the building’s history, and the potential to take photos of the cell, but I think we’ll try the other local pubs and restaurants for the rest of the week.

  • Lake District Week – Greggs (Rivington Services M61)

    Lake District Week – Greggs (Rivington Services M61)

    [I originally posted this in September 2018, but have reposted it to fix some broken image links]

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    Gordon said that he had never been to a Greggs, so I felt that it was only fair that we should go to one for him. I can take or leave Greggs (usually take to be fair……) but I couldn’t see anyone disappointed. So we felt that Rivington Services was the time that Gordon should experience some fine dining.

    We were also delighted to see that Dave’s car (I’ll call it that even though it’s Sarah driving I think) has also stopped at a Greggs. This just shows what a wonderful choice it is.

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    Gordon was thrilled and delighted at his first Greggs experience, and he wouldn’t stop talking about it. He was delighted with his sandwich, and I’m confident he’ll be a regular there.

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    A chicken bake and a pumpkin spiced latte, how very lovely.

    We’re about 90 minutes away now from Keswick, so just one more hop to our destination. And we’ve been able to pick up some maps of Keswick from the services so that’s nicely whetted our appetite. When I say we, I mean me.

  • Lake District Week – The Friendly Farmer

    Lake District Week – The Friendly Farmer

    [I originally posted this in September 2018, but have reposted it to fix some broken image links]

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    The blog this morning started well, I was so engrossed with posting my first little piece of drivel that I didn’t realise that Steve and Gordon were outside in the car waiting for me. But, anyway, all is well, and we’re now off on our hill adventure in the Lakes.

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    The first stop en route wasn’t to a Greggs, as we fancied something a little unhealthy as a treat instead. So we went to the Friendly Farmer near Newark, something Richard has been in I think, which I’ve passed on numerous occasions.

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    The interior isn’t quite what I expected from the exterior, there was a combination of a modern design but with some slightly old fashioned counter layouts. The food wasn’t particularly well displayed, and there were no chicken bakes, which to me seemed a ridiculous omission for these modern times.

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    Anyway, the service was friendly and efficient, and Gordon bought some plum bread as he’s quite middle class. Steve went for a sausage roll, but I want to save myself in case we go to another bakers later on in the day…. So I sat with my latte, which, to be honest, was hotter than the centre of the sun. It needed rather a lot of sugar to be drinkable, but it was reasonably priced and it came with a little biscuit.

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    For those who wanted hot food, there was an interesting selection. There’s also a little shop in the Friendly Farmer, and I was tempted to buy Bev another present, but I think I’ve already spent enough so I decided against it. But, it’s the thought that counts, and I thought about it.

    So, we’re now back on the road driving (by we, I mean Steve) ready for our next stop!

  • Lake District Week – Day One

    Lake District Week – Day One

    [I originally posted this in September 2018, but have reposted it to fix the broken image links]

    It’s the Hike Norfolk week in the Lake District this week, and I’m all ready and fully packed. We’ll be brave and will be conquering (well, struggling up and then struggling down) the delights of Scafell Pike, Helvellyn, Ennerdale Lake and the pubs of Keswick.

    Today is the driving day up to the Lakes, and I’m being driven by the group’s official driver, Steve. His driving is excellent, much better than some of the rubbish I’ve seen from the group (I won’t name names, but he knows who he is) and I’m delighted to hear that there are numerous stops of interest planned along the route. I intend to photograph them so I can look back and remember them, as I imagine they might be a highlight of the week.

    Looking at the list of people going, I dread to think of the gossip and drivel that will be got through during the week. But, no fear, I’ll be there to lift proceedings and ensure that all topics of discussion are wholesome and suitable for family audiences. The group really are lucky to have me.

    I’ve decided that taking a coat would be a good idea, since I was reminded last night how cold it is up the top of some of the hills, so that’s packed. And, just for special measure, I’ve packed the Hike Norfolk first aid kit, as you never know what injuries might befall Dave. He’s already recovering from an injury that he claims was caused at work, although there’s a rumour that it was a more seedy injury. But, I’m not one for gossip.

    Given that it was Bev’s 60th birthday party last night, I’m hoping that no-one was led astray during those proceedings, but I think everyone was responsible…. I can’t wait for what Bev will buy me for my 35th birthday as she was very delighted at my purchase for her 60th. And I’ll say again, she doesn’t look a day over 50….. Right, I doubt I’ll say that again if I’m being honest. Anyway, that’s nothing to do with the Lake District, but we will miss Bev this week.  Well, maybe.

    So, that’s the start of the week, how lovely!

  • Lake District Week – An Image of Bravery

    Lake District Week – An Image of Bravery

    [I originally posted this in September 2018 but have reposted it to fix the broken image link]

    Unfortunately I didn’t have the right setting on my phone and the photo is a little small (although like with all the photos, if you click on it, then you’re presented with a larger image which fixes the issue). However, it was noted (by me) that this is everything this week will represent. Brave, courageous, handsome and likely very wet.

    Lots more photos from today’s expedition to come shortly, but for anyone looking now, this is the picture of bravery that should be in your mind for the moment.

  • Lake District Week – Photos from Hike Norfolk

    These photos were taken by other members of the group on our trip during the week, and I’ve just pinched them so that they can be seen by future Hike Norfolk members   🙂

  • Keswick – Castlerigg Stone Circle

    Before we drove back to Norfolk, we went to visit Castlerigg Stone Circle, which is one of the most important prehistoric sites in the country. It was built in around the third century BC and is around a thirty-minute walk from Keswick.

    The information board at the entrance to the site.

    A plan of where the stones are located at the site. There have been some incursions onto the site over the decades, but one in the 1990s was prevented when the local paper reported that “the hippies were defeated by farmyard slurry placed by local farmers and the police”.

       

    Photos of the stones. There has been no detailed archaeological investigation to have taken place here, with the English Heritage being told that they couldn’t dig here in the 1980s. They did though do a geological survey of the site and a dig is now unlikely as there is no pressing need to disrupt the archaeology which is thought likely to still remain in situ.

    This was the time when the awards were announced for the week, with Sarah winning the coveted ‘bravest person of the week’ award. What an honour”