I cant believe it's been almost two weeks since I last posted here but now that the world is beginning to open up more and more, we've been making the most of every opportunity to get outdoors and to teach our legs how to walk uphill once again.
Our first walk was to Harrop Tarn. This is a short but steep climb up a narrow track through woodland, accessed from the shores of Thirlmere. It was lovely and quiet there and once past Dobgill Falls the view opened up onto the tarn where we sat and enjoyed our picnic lunch.
Although the day was quite overcast, the air was warm and still. On a clear day you would be able to see Helvellyn to the east beyond the bridge.
Our route continued on forest track alongside the tarn and back through the trees, down the hillside overlooking Thirlmere. The fell on the right in the above photograph is Steel Fell, which we climbed the day before lockdown back in March. It feels such a long time ago now.
Time for a quick explore on the shore at Thirlmere before heading for home.
Our second walk up Latrigg was much more familiar, as we have climbed this many times now. This is a very popular little fell with visitors to Keswick, as after just a short climb you are rewarded with beautiful views over both Bassenthwaite and Derwentwater. I was aware that for this reason we would probably encounter many more people on this walk but it actually wasn't as busy as I had been expecting and there was more than enough space to pass everyone quite safely.
And this was the reason I wanted to come here. Some of you may remember my post of two years ago here.
I hope I can continue to do this for as long as possible.
While we were in the area I thought it would be a nice idea to climb Ling Fell. I had noticed this little dome shaped fell earlier in the year when we were walking up Sale Fell (photograph above) and decided it might be worthy of a visit, and since Latrigg had only been a short walk we wouldn't have any problem in bagging another small summit the same day :)
On the way up. 'So very tired'. Don't be fooled, she can out-walk me any day and usually does.
View from the summit, overlooking Sale Fell with Bassenthwaite beyond.
We even made it to the sea again. A lovely walk around a nature reserve and a very happy time spent poking about in rockpools.
J. X
The DP hails from Workington so I know the Lakes a bit. Lovely to be reminded.
ReplyDeleteIt's a beautiful area, Jill. I'm glad you enjoyed the photographs. X
DeleteWow, it looks incredible! I love the photos. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThe photographs show just how changeable the weather is here. I hadn't realised how dark some of them look. X
DeleteWhat lovely scenery! Thank you for sharing your walks with us. Loved the pictures of Lily, in the same spot, over the years. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Bless. Lily looks so tall now and yet I can remember our first walk up Latrigg as though it was yesterday. She was eating rice cakes in that photograph and they are still a firm favourite of hers today. X
DeleteLooks like some lovely days spent outdoors Jules. Great shots as usual and I love the first one with the little bridge, it looks so pretty there. And Lily in her purple top looks much bigger and older than her seven years :)
ReplyDeleteIt feels wonderful to be getting out more, Eunice. I hadn't realised just how much I missed it. Lily is very tall for her age. X
DeleteThank you for sharing your walks with us, such stunning views. Lily is growing up fast, I love your photographic diary x
ReplyDeleteThank you, Eileen. I hope all goes well for you this week. X
DeleteLove your stunning photo's. I hope you continue to get your daughters growth photo's they will love you when they are grown up and can look back on them.
ReplyDeleteI expect it will take a little more persuasion for Lily to have her photograph taken there as the years goes on, but I hope I can keep it up. X
DeleteHow lovely to have the set of photos as your daughter grows. Very special. Such beautiful scenery and an area I would love to walk. One day! B x
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you would love it in the Lakes, Barbara, just as I'm sure would love to explore your beautiful island. X
DeleteWelcome to my neck of the woods 😉. If I had know you were going to be on Ling I could have got the binoculars out and waved to you both! xx
ReplyDeleteAnd we would have certainly waved back :) X
DeleteSteel Fell sounds like a very appropriate name looking at the colour of the sky!
ReplyDeleteI love that photo of Lily poking about in the rock pool, I love that kids are still having as much fun doing the things we did decades later. Some things never change. xxx
Steel Fell does look a bit gloomy on that photograph doesn't it, a sharp contrast to the beautiful sunny day back in March when we climbed it.
DeleteGive Lily a stick and some water and she will be happy for hours :) I was exactly the same at her age. X
Gosh how beautiful what spectacular scenery and a lovely little companion to keep you company too. I have never been walking in the Lakes, I should really do it one day. Have a great weekend.x
ReplyDeleteThere is plenty to explore if you ever do get to visit, Linda. X
DeleteI think you're making up for lost time, and why ever not when you've got such beautiful walks on your doorstep. It's a lovely tradition to take Lily's photo in the same spot each year, it'll be nice to look back on the changes in the future.
ReplyDeleteI hope I can keep up the photograph as it has become a tradition now. The first time it was by accident, almost two years after I had taken the first one. Since then I've taken it every couple of years. Lily will be nine the next time! X
DeleteThese are such beautiful pictures. I'd love to walk it with you, but I know I couldn't keep up at all. Those timeline pictures of your daughter.priceless. I hope you do get to do that for a while. What a nice remembrance for both of you.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Faith. I realise how fortunate I am to be able to walk in such beautiful surroundings and I count my blessings each time. X
DeleteI rather envy you. I've been up Latrigg many times (who has not?) but the Thirlmere fells never seemed to appeal (although I have no idea why). My Mum had walked in the Lake District since she was a teenager (and with Dad since their early 20s) and I think I just fell into the habit of their old stomping grounds - which ranged fairly far and wide but never included Thirlmere. Mind you I did explore a bit of Thirlmere once or twice out of curiosity. Come to think of it I walked the Buttermere and Crummock Water fells which they rarely did. Hmmmm. So often your posts send me off into my long-past memories. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThe area around Thirlmere never really appealed to me before either, but I was pleasantly surprised, and it has the added advantage of being quieter than many other parts of the Lakes just now.
DeleteIt makes me happy to know that my photographs bring back fond memories for you :)
Jules - thank you for taking me on this walk with you. I am no longer mobile enough to walk unaided and to see those beautiful views was quire something.
ReplyDeleteIt is always lovely to have you join me, Pat. X
DeleteCrikey Jules, I can just about make it upstairs lol so it's lovely to be able to go for a virtual walk with you up hill and down dale. The photos are a lovely way to mark Lily growing up, which she's certainly doing. It's so good to be able to get out and about again isn't it. I managed to get Mum to the garden centre this week, probably the first time she's been out since all this started. There was nobody in there which was perfect and we were able to have a good look around. A change of scene certainly does wonders for the spirit. xx
ReplyDeleteI can't begin to tell you just how much better I feel for getting out again, Suzanne, so It must have been lovely to be able to take your mum to the garden centre, especially while it was quiet so you could relax and enjoy yourselves. I hope it might become amore regular thing for you now. X
DeleteYour pictures are beautiful and evoke the feel of that summer air and the smells it carries. Makes me remember being there with my daughter many years ago; we hiked all over, and wished we could have gone on and on.... Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment. I love to get out walking on the fells and it feels so good being able to do this once again. X
DeleteFantastic pictures, the views you show us are stunning, Thanks.
ReplyDeleteOne of these days I will get back up there, so many memories..mostly good ones :)
I think most people have happy memories of time spent in the Lakes, even when it's been raining. X
DeleteYou took us on a couple of wonderful tours, it was a pleasure to come along with you albeit virtually. A delight to be surrounded by the beauty. My how Lily has grown, such a difference in the photos, a wonderful collection.
ReplyDeleteI'm happy you enjoyed your virtual tour :)
DeleteWow, look at the length of that ponytail ! I love that you take photos sitting in the same spot. Keswick is our favourite Lake District town. We like to get a pastime or similar from the large bakery in town and drive up to Ashness Bridge to eat it.
ReplyDeleteLily's hair is long, and the photograph was taken after it had been trimmed! She usually wears it in a plait, so it was nice to see it loose for a change.
DeleteI've not visited Ashness Bridge for a while, somewhere to go in autumn, maybe. X
Beautiful scenery. Your photos are always beautiful.
ReplyDeleteLily has grown up! 😊 It’s a great idea to take photos of Lily in the same spot every year.
Thank you, Nil. The photograph started as a complete accident, when I discovered I'd coincidentally taken the same view in the same place two years earlier. Lily was only 13 months old in the first one. X
DeleteThank you for the virtual walk
ReplyDeleteThe photo of your daughter is so lovely. I have lots like that of my sons and grandchildren.
Julie xxxxx
Thank you, Julie. The photograph has become a bit of a tradition now. X
DeleteIt has been very changeable weather this past few weeks hasn't it. It looks like you have managed to make the most of it with some wonderful walks in this beautiful area we get to call home xx
ReplyDeleteI often think to myself how lucky I am that I can wait to enjoy my walks when the weather is fine. X
DeleteWhat a wonderful post this is, a joy to see all of your photographs, especially Lily in that same spot every year. Seeing the one of her poking about in rockpools made me smile too, it is such fun.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy this month of August.
All the best Jan
Lily is often poking about in something, Jan, so I'm grateful when it's just rock pools. She prods her sticks into all sorts when we're out in the fields :D
DeleteLoving the photo tradition and the fact that you are getting out and about. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Shazza. I hadn't realised just how much I had missed it, so now I'm determined to make the most of the summer break while it lasts. X
DeleteThat's lovely of you to say, Marlene. X
ReplyDeleteWhat absolutely Stunning scenery,I love walking,it cleanses the soul.I love to walk in the rain lol.Love to see the lil one's exploring too.Enjoy your time outside in the fresh air.Mum is not good,she is 200 miles away as well.Hugs xx
ReplyDeleteWalking is one of my favourite things to do, but I much prefer dry sunny weather.
DeleteI'm sorry to hear your mum is not too good. Sending my very best wishes. X
It is an area of incredible beauty and it is not hard to understand that poets have found it inspirational. I have been fortunate to visit areas like this on a couple of recent visits to the UK and the images are firmly etched in my memory. On my last visit I was also able to spend about a week in the highlands of Scotland - also stunning and not soon forgotten.
ReplyDeleteIt's an incredible beautiful area and I feel very fortunate to have access to it, especially just now. I also love Scotland although it's a while since I've spent any time in the highlands. Thank you for your comment, David. X
DeleteThe photos of Lily in the same spot each year are priceless, Jules! The scenery is stunning as usual, love hearing about yours and Lily’s adventures x
ReplyDeleteThe photograph is fun to do and I hope I can keep it up for a few more years. It feels like only yesterday that we went up Latrigg together that first time. X
DeleteMy, my how she's growing! I've been following your blog since 2017 when I first started blogging. I've made the occasional comments over the years. I love following your walks and the lovely places you visit. Lily is so lucky to have a mummy like you. After we moved back down to Somerset in September 2020 I deleted my old blog and started a new one. Now that I'm recovered I sometimes wish I hadn't deleted it, but it's long gone. Take care, Jane x
ReplyDelete