LINSKELDFIELD FARM CARAVAN SITE NEAR COCKERMOUTH LAKES 4 SEPTEMBER 2023

A last minute decision by Roy to spend a few days while the weather appears superb, we aimed for a place in central Lakes but everywhere was booked so we ended up on this farm which turned out to be clean, smart, full of exotic birds an different animals and only £20 a night inclusive.

Sun shone all the way to the Lakes and all day, had a walk round the pond and discovered all the birds.

B

TUESDAY - HAYSTACKS HIKE ABOUT 8 MILES

What an amazing day, blue skies all day and temperature around 27oC. We drove to Buttermere and did Haystacks 1900 ft, a tough walk up from Warnscale Bottom to Blackbeck Tarn, pretty Innominate Tarn to the rocky summit, then back down Scarth Gap to the pub!

                                                    INNOMINTATE TARN

                        HAYSTACKS SUMMIT

                                                    

                                                            HAYSTACKS ON WAY DOWN

                                                          BUTTERMERE 

                                                    JETS

                                              A WELL DESERVED DRINK!

WEDNESDAY

A lazy day due to my iffy knee after yesterdays hike. We drove to Cockermouth mainly to buy some sunglasses for me as I mislaid them at the end of yesterdays walk while posing for photo at the lake!

We drove to St Bees RSPB site and walked along the cliff edge to a stony beach just before St Bees Head, lunch and a test of the Irish Sea and back to site. I would like to point out that at the start of the walk Roy had "lost" his binoculars. I was certain they were not in the van and I was sure he must have left them on a chair at the pub in Buttermere yesterday, phone call to pub and we collect tomorrow, he's a jammy beggar!

                                                    VIEW TOWARDS WHITEHAVEN

                                                        DOWN TOTHE BEACH

                                                ST BEES HEAD IN BACKGROUND

                                        THE USUAL LUNCH TIME PHOTO

                                        TESTING THE IRISH SEA!

Our last day, we had an early start to Buttermere, retrieved Roy's binoculars and had a super 6 hour walk up Red Pike, 2479 ft along to High Stile 2644 ft and High Crag 2443ft. A stunning ridge walk, no sun today but very humid. It's been superb re-visiting the Lakes, but I had forgotten how tough they are.

                                                                        REDPIKE TO CLIMB

                                                    EARLY MORNING REFLECTIONS IN BUTTERMERE

        STEPS ALMOST ALL THE WAY UP RED PIKE

                                                                    BLEABERRY TARN

                            BLEABERRY TARN

                                                            PANORAMA

                           HIGH STILE

                    

                           SEE THE ROUTE UP RED PIKE WE TOOK FROM THE TARN

                                                                LUNCH AT HIGH CRAG

                                                                                    DOWN TO  SCARTH GAP

                                                        CHEERS!! AND ICECREAM FOR ROY

   

CRAKEN HOUSE FARM CAMPSITE LEYBURN 24 AUGUST 202

 August Bank Holiday loomed so we headed off for beautiful Wensleydale for a few days depending on the crazy weather.

Our first walk on Friday was superb, no rain, 6+ miles from West Witton to Redmire Force and stepping stones and the Chapel of  the Knights Templar ruins.

 PHOTOS ARE IN REVERSE.....OOPS!

                                                CHAPEL OF THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR

                                                    LUNCH TIME

                                                STEPPING STONES OVER RIVER URE

                                        CASTLE BOLTON

                                            REDMIRE FORCE

                                                        BIG FUNGI

RIVER URE PANORAMA

DAY TWO - WENSLEYDALE SHOW

Another wonderful day at the show despite some rain and a bit of a thunderstorm, which we missed each time by eating in the big tent! 

Loved all the usual animals but the highlight for me was Ben Atkinson, a professional stunt rider, horse trainer and Liberty artist from East Yorkshire, who was absolutely amazing and mesmerizing. 

DAY THREE COVERDALE 6 MILE CIRCULAR WALK

We drove to Carlton in Coverdale and walked over the fields to West Scrafton, Swineside then along the banks of the River Cover, where we had a lovely lunch spot until it decided to rain. On to Gammersgill and back to Carlton. So lucky to miss some huge black clouds over the higher hills.

                                                    RIVER COVER

        COWS BLOCKING OUR GATE

                                            LUNCH AT THE SIDE OF RIVER COVER

DAY FOUR, LAST DAY

We drove into Swaledale and did a 5 mile circular route from the late 17th century packhorse crossing at Ivelet Bridge across to Muker and back via a super flat walk along the River Swale. I point out flat as opposed to the first part of the walk which was not! A moaning Ani followed Roy uphill over mud trails and unsigned, undefined route until we reached the pretty village of Muker, lunch and a good seat and mood improved. A great walk really! 

                                                        OXNOP BECK

                    ROY LOST AND MUKER IN BACKGROUND

                                        MUKER LUNCH BENCH

                                                        MUKER CHURCH

                                    MUKER MEADOWS AND COWHOUSES

                                            RIVER SWALE

                                            GREAT RAMPSHOLME COWHOUSE

                                                                RIVER SWALE AND DIPPER

                                                IVELET BRIDGE