Things to see on a damp day!

Of course The Lake District always looks at it's best in good weather and walking in the wet is no fun for anyone, is it? However, when the distant vistas aren't looking at their best, there is still plenty to see on a walk in the hills. Today was a case in point. We set out to walk over the fells from our home in Coniston to Little Langdale and back via a different route. The weather didn't look promising, but we were undeterred and set off through Yewdale woods towards Tilberthwaite. Showers began to fall and it's all too easy to get your head down and just walk with a view of your boots stepping one in front of the other along the muddy path. But if you start to look around there is always more to see. All kinds of wild flowers and creatures along the way. Here are just a few from today's walk.

Herb Robert, growing in the walls where we entered the wood, but look around, it seems to grow everywhere and has a long season too.

Convolvulous, entwined amongst the trees and other vegetation. A pest to gardeners, but a beautiful wildflower with it's white trumpets.

The woods and hedgerows have their own bounty to share if you are observant enough. At this time of year there are wild strawberries and raspberries along the way.

Look out for some strange and unusual shapes in the woods. You might see something familiar, or something that reminds you of someone!

An unusual find at this time of year. Not sure if it's a blackbird or a thrushes egg, but it must be from a second brood to have just hatched out at the end of July.

Keep your eyes peeled in the woods, you never know what you might be lucky enough to see!

Coming out of the woods and onto the fells, the flora changes and in the wet areas there is cotton grass and the yellow bog asphodel.

And of course there are orchids in the wet places too. Heath spotted orchids.

Another unusual plant that likes the wet acid bogs is the sundew. It is an insectivorous plant and can be quite difficult to spot.

We saw this moth trying to get dry enough to fly again. I haven't identified it yet, but look at it's unusual leopard skin body. A beautiful creature.

And even on a dull, damp day, it's not impossible to get a decent landscape shot. This one was taken in the rain. You can just see Wrynose Pass winding it's way up the side of Pike O'Blisco.

And here's a couple of residents, relaxing and watching the traffic go by.