LOVELY LAKE DISTRICT

Our last trip out this year in the van, we are camped about 8 miles from Keswick at Troutbeck Caravan site, surrounded by stunning scenery and at present lots of clouds, wind and sprinkles!
No TV at first but Roy has fiddled with our fixtures and appears to have mended it, just by chance I looked for wifi, amazingly we can get it and its faster than at home!

                                                               views from site - Blencathra above

Despite constant rain showers we had a drive down to Ullswater and hiked for an hour and half round Aira Force. It was stunning, despite the intermittent showers.

ULLSWATER

AIRA FORCE

Next day we set off early to hike up Blencathra at 2847 ft , which we can see from the campsite.Sunshine with many dark clouds and a raging wind - so cold and strong you could hardly stand up at times, we did the 6 mile round trip in about 3 hours, no chance of picnicking at the summit - it was freezing! Roy did find a soft grassy sheltered bank on the way back for our lunch.

BLENCATHRA

SCALES TARN

ON WAY UP

ALMOST THERE!

SUMMIT

HELVELLYN FROM BLENCATHRA

DOWN WE GO

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BLENCATHRA IN ALL ITS GLORY!

Our last day dawned wet and very windy.....what's new in the Lakes!
I spent the morning writing Christmas cards while Roy lazed! The rain stopped early afternoon, we drove to Patterdale and walked for a couple of hours along the side of Ullswater on the Howtown trail. The rain stayed away and we enjoyed the exercise.

Back home on Monday - roll on Spring!

FILEY FROLICS

Braving the east wind forecast we ventured to Filey Brigg Country Park and camped for 3 nights overlooking Filey Bay and Bempton's majestic cliffs.

Arrived in a shower then had a lovely stroll along the cliff top to the end of the Brigg promontory, watching the sun set.

A 8 mile windy walk along the clifftops at Flamborough Head on our first day gave us lots of exercise and “fresh air” Would have been nice to buy a bag of chips to go with our picnic at the lighthouse but Roy's wallet had no money in it! We got back early so Roy walked into Filey and bought cake for afternoon tea to redeem himself.

Our last day dawned with glorious blue skies, hot in the sheltered areas away from the wind.

We walked to Filey Dams, a Yorkshire Wildlife Trust place with a couple of bird hides. Not many birds around but a pretty place on the edge of Filey.

After lunch we went down to cobble landing and across the broad beach to the end of the Brigg..... a bracing walk!

Fish and chips for supper ended a super visit with lots of memories of my childhood.

Black tailed Godwit

Heron up a tree

St Oswalds Church