Morning in Kendal

We had to be in Kendal quite early for an appointment and made the most of it by having a little wander around the town we used to live in.

It was a bit hazy when we arrived and walked along the river, past the weir at Stramongate Bridge. The riverside Hotel on the right, stands on the site of an old tannery.

Stramongate Bridge, thought to date from the 14th century, but much altered and added to in the mid to late 17th century. The original bridge is still there and can be seen from underneath, but has been built over.

Before the bridge was built there was a ford crossing the Kent just this side of the bridge and accessed from where The Bridge Hotel now stands. The building behind the bridge was one of the old mills of Kendal and before conversion to offices in the 80s, it was operating as 'Kendal Socks', manufacturing hosiery.

A lovely morning, but cold, so cold the crocuses wouldn't open for us!

The weir at Stramongate / Gooseholme in Kendal.

Brantwood... and the Ruskin exhibition.

One of the many good things about living in Coniston and being a 'Friend of Ruskin's Brantwood" is that there it always gives us an option for a visit. Whether it's a beautiful day to wander around the gardens, or like today, dark and wet, when we can enjoy the house, exhibitions and cafe. Today we took the opportunity of catching up with an exhibition that we have been meaning to visit for a while. 'The Power Of The Hills: John Ruskin And Mountains' is an exhibition of his drawings and watercolours and runs until April 24th.
One of the best ways to arrive at Brentwood is across the lake from Coniston Boating Centre. Either by the Coniston Launch Company vessels, or The National Trust's SS Gondola, a restored, Victorian steam launch.

Brantwood, a place to warm the soul on dark days.

The Coniston Fells when the rain takes charge.

The view down Coniston Water from Brantwood is always interesting, no matter what the weather.

A beautiful house in a beautiful place.

If you enjoy a visit to Brantwood, make sure you visit the Ruskin Museum in the centre of Coniston. It is a fabulous museum of heritage, literature, nature and of course the Bluebird wing. Well worth a visit.

Tom Ghyll and Tarn Hows

After a lot of rain recently, we decided that this would be the driest underfoot that we could hope for. The ghyll was more full than usual, so once again, I couldn't resist a few photos of the waterfalls and cataracts, although the main fall is obscured by lots of growth and it is difficult to get a good image. Tarn Hows too offers views that are really hard to resist, no matter how often you visit. At least the weather and the changing seasons make the views different overtime, at least, thats the way it feels.

Tom Ghyll and Tarn Hows are both owned and managed by The National Trust.

The full gayly and the low angle of the sun made for some interesting images.

I tried to capture the splash!

The beauty of the woods, the team and the soft, morning sunlight.

The sunlight picking out the moss covered beck stones.

The sign says it all.

A wintery looking Coniston Old Man.

A beautiful birch tree, the tarns and a distant, snow covered, Fairfield.

The National Trust, hard at work, managing the land around the tarn.

Always a good view of the Langdales from Tarn Hows.

For more information about things to do and see and places to staying the Coniston area, click on this link to Coniston Tourist Information. Or alternatively Visit Cumbria.

Early Morning By The Lake

I had to be in Barrow early this morning, but just a brief visit and I could not resist a quick stop by the lake on the way home. The views down the lake from Brown How and Lake Bank are pretty special and always different. Hard to drive past on many occasions.

A still lake and some fresh snow on the distant Fairfield.

A New Look At Old Wood

We often walk from Coniston, along the old railway line that has now been closed for over 50 years. There is much of interest and always something new. Today The 'something new' came from something very old and very familiar. When we leave the railway line and head down to the lake shore for our return to the village, we pass through a National Trust campsite and standing by one of the cattle grids is an old, dead tree. I have often admired it's grand, skeletal appearance and wondered about how old it is and what kind of tree it has been. Only today I looked closer at the grain and the shapes within the tree trunk and realised that although the tree had been dead for many years, it was still aching of great beauty.

Beautiful textures and patterns of old wood.

Anyone know what kind of wood it is?

Spring Is Coming

There are definite signs of spring, even up here in the north of England. For a couple of weeks now I have been watching the new shoots of bluebells forcing their way through the leaf mould on the woodland floor. Under the hedges there are the new shoots of lords & ladies, dogs mercury and the buds of the hawthorn are beginning to unfurl as the honeysuckle renews it's entwining grip on the hedges. Snowdrops everywhere, light up the verges and an occasional celandine shows it's brave face to the world. Spring is coming.
The birds are singing once again and the woodpeckers drum loudly all around. Nest sites are anxiously sought out and preparation begins for Robin Wren and Blackbird. The relentless, unstoppable, roll of nature through the seasons has begun. Spring is coming.

Spring is coming.

Walking from France into Switzerland

The route into Switzerland from the Chamonix Valley goes over the Col De Balme. We walked from Argentier, up the valley to the village of La Tour and from there, up to the col. It is the start of The Haute Route, a two week trek from Chamonix to Zermatt. So we set off with great anticipation of what the next two weeks would hold for us. At times it went to plan, other times it became more of an adventure than we expected, but a great walk all the same.
It is possible to get a cablecar from La Tour, but the walk is spectacular, as you climb up out of the valley, more and more of Mont Blanc and it's surrounding high mountains, comes into view. From the col it is quite possible (and sensible) to walk down to the village of Trient to stay for the night. However, we didn't do that, we walked further up the high Trient valley, very close to the Trient glacier. The aim was to find a place to cross the river flowing out of the glacier, crossing the valley much higher up and by avoiding going all the way down to Trient we could contour around to the Col De Forclaz. Well that was the plan. We never found a way across the raging torrent and added about eight miles of tough walking to our day, arriving at Col De Forclaz at about eight thirty. The fact that the hotel didn't have our reservation didn't help either, but after a meal and a few beers it didn't seem to matter anymore.

Looking back at La Tour as the path begins to rise out of the valley.

Down towards Chamonix and Mont Blanc.

There is a cafe at the Col De Balme, it sits on the border between France and Switzerland.

The first view down into Switzerland.

 Trent can be seen in the bottom of the valley and the Col De Forclaz just above.

We took a detour to see the glacier de Trient.

In trying to avoid the walk up from Trient to Forclaz we ended up adding about eight miles to our day!

The next day we had one of the longest days on the route ahead of us, The Bovine Route, about twenty miles from Forclaz to Champed, a long contour and a gruelling downhill.

Fountains Abbey

Fountains Abbey is a ruined Cistercian monastery near Ripon. Founded in 1132 Fountains operated as a monastery for 407 years before the reformation and destruction ordered by Henry VIII. Nevertheless, Fountains is the most complete Cistercian Abbey in the country and is a fascinating day out, with it's extensive grounds, panoramas and photo opportunities.
Although Fountains is thought of as entirely Cistercian, the original founders were thirteen monks of the Benedictine order at St Mary's in York. Within three years of them arriving here at Fountains they had been admitted to the Cistercian way of life. The Cistercian system was one not just as of religion, but a complete working entity with lay brothers who worked the land and kept animals, making the Abbey virtually self sufficient.
The abbey closed in 1539 and was sold, remaining as a private estate until purchased by West Riding County Council in 1963. The National Trust bought Fountains Abbey in 1983 and manage it as a visitor attraction and a historical monument, in trust, for ever, for everyone.

Cistercian abbeys always seem to be in the same kind of setting. A sheltered and secluded valley with a stream running through.

There's lots of snowdrops around at the moment.

The old stones that have been in place for almost nine hundred years.

Moss, turning the stones green.

The beautifully vaulted ceiling.

I can almost hear the plainsong.

Fountains Abbey is well worth a visit if you are in and around the Ripon and Harrogate area.

Brantwood Gardens...... Autumn Colour

As the flowers of summer fade, the colours of autumn take over. Brantwood gardens have plenty of colour to offer at this time of year. The natural deciduous woodlands and the warm colours of the acers provide a whole range of colours.

Beautiful natural fencing in the gardens.

Up in the woodland garden a high canopy of autumn colour.

The paths glow with colour all around.

The acers add tones of red.

Even the hydrangeas add colour interest.

The oak and bracken create a golden glow. Watch out for The King of The Golden River!

Grasses surround the pond of leaves.

The leaves from the acers carpet the footpaths.

The views from the house and gardens are magnificent and ever changing.

A view of the mountain garden, with Coniston Old Man beyond.

Just beyond the Brantwood estate, worth the walk up towards Lawson Park for this splendid view down Coniston Water.