Adventures: Lake District

This month has been so busy - final exams, results, Budapest, Lake District and finally home. June feels like it has just flown by and I can't believe that we are in July already. I have to say I am glad to be back at home in Bristol and looking forward to starting my summer job next week (I like to keep busy).

Harry and I decided to take a holiday camping in the Lake District and we ended up near Ambleside and Elterwater. Getting there meant taking the train which meant changing twice and then a bus and then walking to the campsite. On reflection a whole week camping may have been a little much - particularly as the last day was one big thunderstorm, making packing up a soggy tent not fun. Overall it was a great holiday and we would definitely do it again.

Day 1: Arrival into Windermere train station, bus to Ambleside and walk to campsite. Once we arrived we mostly spent the time setting up camp and going to the pub for a pint.

Ducks at Stickle Tarn

Day 2: Ventured around the campsite and located the nearest shop. We then walked to Stickle Tarn - up the much steeper than anticipated path and where we met these ducks whilst having our lunch. Then to the national trust pub for a hot chocolate (for me) and a pint (for Harry).

View from the Crinkle Crags

Bowfell sumit

Day 3: We decided that we needed to tackle one of the big "hills" and being such a beautiful day be headed to the Crinkle Crags and Bowfell. This walk was long but I really loved it, especially how the Crinkle Crags just keep going and going.

Day 4: This was supposed to be our rest day which included walking to Grasmere and then Ambleside - but seeing as we naïvely misinterpreted the map it ended up being a pretty good hill climb too. Walking from Grasmere to Ambleside via Rydal water was lovely particularly as it was so hot. Once in Ambleside we did a little shopping and caught the bus back to the campsite.

Day 5: After the failure to have a rest day the day before we decided to just stay around the campsite. Again the weather was lovely - a little too hot if anything. Being in the tent provided very little shade so we walked down to Great Lansdale Beck and spent the day reading our books.

Money tree near Cathedral caverns

Day 6: Before planning the trip we came across a walk which included Skelwith Force and Colwith Force waterfalls along with exploring the Cathedral caverns around Lingmoor Fell. The walk itself was pretty easy will little hills to climb but was great. We did not expect the caverns to be quite so dark... I'm not sure why especially as we knew that head torch. The longest tunnel is over 100m long and was really quite dark and scary - but we go through! On the way back from the caverns we came across the money tree above where people have put coins into the bark resulting in a pretty surreal object to come across in the woods. Has anyone else come across this before?

Morning after the storm

Swimming river

Day 7: Having rained all night with thunder and lightening the hills looked so beautiful with the morning mist. We decided to have an easy walk around the Langdales, so as to allow time to start packing for leaving the next day. After the walk and some packing we went down to Great Lansdale Beck for a swim - well that was the plan and after getting knee deep in the cold water I just wasn't brave enough (unlike Harry who was having a great swim around). 

Day 8: Journey home to Bristol! 

More photos up on my Flickr.

I also have an announcement - I have opened an ETSY SHOP! Have a look here... I'm just waiting for some more supplies to come and will be adding some more listings. Any suggestions for a better name for the shop are more than welcome! I'm at a serious loss. 

I am also working on some new recipes and have some sewing projects lined up! Bring on the summer!!

L xx