Checking the signs of Spring

Back to one of our regular walks today. We were keen to see what changes the season has delivered so far and we weren't disappointed with our wild flower count hitting the 20 mark for the first time this year.

We left the village early in the morning, in hazey sunshine.

As we entered the woods we discovered lots of wood sorrel flowering. This specimen is a particularly pink one.

A female red deer was spotted grazing in the distance as we climbed up through Monk Coniston woods. I only got one chance at getting the photograph before it leapt off into the woods.

A beautiful view of Langdale Pikes. I love this view for the great variety of subtle colours, they change with the season, but they are always varied.

Daffodils flowering above Tarn Hows.

The larch trees are coming out and with them the larch small, bright red flowers. The flowers later turn into the fur cones.

Sorrel was growing everywhere, this one looks like a bird's nest as it has taken route in the moss on a tree.

Heading back down through the wood we spotted this dipper. He sat there for ages, the pond here is full of leaves and very silted up. It looked like he wasn't so sure, it looks like water, but is it safe to dive in?

With the first of April lambing time arrives in the higher parts of The Lake District, providing some very cute photo opportunities.

Skelwith Bridge To Colwith and Little Langdale, back via Elterwater.

Spring Walks

We parked the car at Skelwith Bridge and walked over the bridge on the main road towards Coniston. Take care on this section of road, there is no path and it is not very wide. A few yards up the hill, take the footpath towards Colwith, Little Langdale and Coniston. The path eventually crosses a road, just before Colwith Falls, then proceeds up to High Park farm where refreshments are very tempting. Then up to Stang End before going downhill to the Ford in the river at Little Langdale. Don't cross the river here, but continue up tp Slater's Bridge, cross over the river, past a farm and over the Wryness Pass road, onto the track to Elterwater. From Elterwater the path follows the river all the way back to Skelwith Bridge. The walk is about 8 miles and takes around 3 hours, depending on how fast you walk and how often you are tempted by the refreshment options en route.

The walk up from Skelwith Bridge revealed some heart gladdening sights. Primroses in the woods.

Wild daffodils growing beside the river, just above Colwith Falls.

The river is very deep in a pool just here. When we were there this week it appeared to be about eight feet deep!

High Park Farm.

Slater's Bridge, built by quarrymen. Supposedly built to help them get to work in the quarries across the beck, but I think it was more likely that it was to help them to get home.

The path from Little Langdale towards Wetherlam.

Little Langdale Tarn amidst it's mountain surrounds.

The walk back along the river also takes in Eltermere and some good views of Langdale Pikes.

Spring At Tom Ghyll, Tarn Hows, High Arnside & Oxen Fell.

 

The path up Tom Ghyll from Glen Mary car park near Coniston, offers so many possibilities. Cross the stream over the fallen tree, through the gate and into a world of adventure....

Early morning at Tarn Hows, the best time to be there.

The National Trust have recently been removing some of the trees that were growing up along the shoreline. This has opened up the views again. Other trees have been planted in the area around the tarn, so no overall loss in numbers.

Before the Sunday rush and before the summer invasion. Tarn Hows, quiet and still, a perfect place to be on a bright spring morning.

Just to the north of Tarn Hows lies High Arnside Tarn. Built as a small reservoir it is now a private fishing lake for a local Angling Club. Permits available at Tourist Information Offices.

Out towards High Oxen Fell and the views look North, to the Fairfield range of mountains beyond Ambleside.

National Trust, Bodnant Gardens.

Bodnant Garden

Last week we took advantage of the wonderful Spring weather and headed down to Bodnant Gardens on the Conwy estuary in North Wales. The 80 acres of Bodnant were gifted to the National Trust in 1949, but the gardens have been created over the past 150 years. The gardens are here as a result of the vision of the Pochin / McLaren family, who not only designed the gardens, but sponsored plant discovery trips to other parts of the world.

Bodnant has more formal areas of garden around the house, where the Italianate terraces lead down to wilder looking areas that eventually lead down towards the Dell. Beyond the Dell there are pathways that lead to the skating lake and the newly opened (April 2017) Furnace Meadow & Furnace Hill. There are lots of different areas to wander around and when the legs grow weary, there are some very good tea rooms onsite. Once refreshed you will probably be in the right frame of mind to visit the adjacent garden centre to start creating your own Bodnant when you get back home!

Our visit coincided with peak daffodil time, the Old Park was a sea of gold. There was also a fabulous collection of magnolias in full bloom, not to mention all the camellias, oh and the rhododendrons! Here are some of the photographs I took on out two visits on consecutive days.

Bodnant Hall, built in 1792

Many different shades of Magnolia and Rhododendron.

The Italianate terraces of Bodnant Hall.

The Old Park.

"Ten thousand saw I at a glance, tossing their heads in sprightly dance."

"And oft' when on my couch I lie, In vacant or in pensive mood, They flash upon that inward eye, which is the bliss of solitude"

Many different varieties of Narcissus

This one I can remember, Narcissus Cyclamanus. Just to look at it reminds me of the name.

Spring Snowflake in morning light.

Magnolia against a perfect sky.

Pyrenean Fritillary.

Down in the Dell, the paths wind their way around, crossing and re-crossing the stream.

Snake's Head Fritilary

Skunk Cabbage growing alongside the stream and in some of the damp areas around.

The gardens have lots of seats, strategically placed to enjoy the beautifully created vistas.

The skating pond. From the main entrance to the pond is approximately one mile across the gardens.

So much beauty in one place

The outer parts of the garden feel like a natural paradise, but they are of course, totally created by many years of planning and hard work.

Camelia

Spring Snowflake

Rhododendron