Month: November 2014

Hawkshead, Lake District, Cumbria

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The windswept look as we crossed on Hawkshead ferry

The windswept look as we crossed Windermere on Hawkshead ferry

Suzie’s first ukulele!

We always feel so at home here ...

We always feel so at home here …

The Croft campsite in the distance from the top of the churchyard

Chestnuts and shot starter. Bri wasn't impressed!

Chestnuts and shot starter. Bri wasn’t impressed!

We’ve visited Hawkshead many times, but his was only our second camping trip.  Our first trip several years ago involved a two man dome tent that you couldn’t stand up in, torrential rain, and a night sleeping in our car at that time (a mini!) because it was raining into the tent.  Fortunately for me, Bri got the driver’s side with the steering wheel.  He was walking like John Wayne the next morning, but it wore off and we look back now with fond memories of that adventure!!  This time was a considerable upgrade with Jolly and even though we again had torrential rain one night, we were cosy and dry.  Happy days!

We went for a two-nighter, taking Jolly over on the Hawkshead ferry and stayed, like last time, at the private Croft Campsite

http://www.hawkshead-croft.co.uk/

It’s situated just across the road from the centre of Hawkshead.  It’s changed a lot since last time, having expanded and now boasting camping, caravans and holiday lodges.  Nice site and perfect location.

We spent much of this stay meandering around Hawkshead and on site relaxing.

There are 4 very good pubs in Hawkshead – The Sun Inn, The Red Lion, The Kings Arms and The Queens Head.  The first night we ate at the Sun Inn and the second night we booked a table at The Kings Arms.  Delicious food, although Bri wasn’t impressed with the chestnuts and a drink shot for starters.  “Boring, doesn’t taste of anything!”.

We had lunch at a cafe Poppi Red in the square.  It was nice, but busy and later as we walked around we noticed a quieter cosy cafe down a side street (forgotten the name) which would’ve been ideal.  So have a wander around.  We had a lovely walk around St Michaels and All Angels Church, Hawkshead, one afternoon.  The grounds sprawl on forever, and as you climb you get a good view of Hawkshead and beyond.  Later as I wandered around the shops, I walked into one looking for some jewellery and walked out with a ukulele!  I’m now learning to play which shouldn’t be too difficult as I already play the guitar.  I also have an open invite to bring it along to any future jamming sessions in the local pubs that the shop owner’s husband plays in!  Watch this space …

All in all a very fun and relaxing stay.

Next stop Boroughbridge.

ONWARDS!>>>

Suzie & Bri

Beautiful Keswick, Lake District

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On the road to Keswick

On the road to Keswick

Site at sundown

Gone fishing ...

Gone fishing …

Bri at Castlerigg Stone Circle

Suzie at Castlerigg Stone Circle

Suzie at Castlerigg Stone Circle

View of the Helvellyn range from the stone circle

Castlerigg Stone Circle

Suzie in a derelict railway man’s hut on the cycle way

Old railway cycle route

Old railway cycle route

Old railway cycle route

Keswick on market day

Keswick on market day

Stunning sunset

Stunning sunset

Wildlife

Wildlife

Scenic spot

Scenic spot

Bri having a chilled stroll with a (plastic!) glass of fizz

Bri having a chilled stroll & a glass of fizz

Campsite right on the edge of Derwentwater

Scenic spot

Scenic spot

Photographer's dream!

Photographer’s dream!

Bit of a gap between our last jaunt and this one, due to family commitments.  We were originally supposed to have visited Boroughbridge before Keswick but this has now been scheduled for mid-November.

Mid-September we were here at the Keswick Camping and Caravanning Club Site – which has to be one of our favourites so far.  Bri had visited before but it was my first time here.  The site, surroundings, and stunning scenery here are hard to beat.  The site’s situated on the edge of Derwentwater and a photographer’s dream location.  It has a really good feel to it too.  The first evening we took a bottle of fizz down to the water’s edge and just sat watching the sun go down.  It was surprisingly peaceful to say that the site was full.  We found our own little spot away from it all.

As you can see from the photos, our stay involved visiting Keswick town centre, including the bustling market, cycling the old railyway line to visit Castlerigg Stone Circle, and hiring a rowing boat to go out onto Derwentwater.

From this visit on we will be regular visitors.  This location has everything for a relaxing, scenic, getaway break from it all!

Next stop Hawkshead.

ONWARDS!>>>

Suzie & Bri

Thornbrook Barn Campsite, Ingleton, Yorkshire Dales

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Jolly parked up at Super pitch 5 and Bri returning from a hilly bike ride

Church of St Oswald, Thornton-in-Lonsdale

Church of St Oswald, Thornton-in-Lonsdale

The Marton Arms, Thornton-in-Lonsdale

The Marton Arms, Thornton-in-Lonsdale

Spooky formations

The Judge’s Head

Spooky formations – this was pretty gross, dripping water from the tongue

Entrance to White Scar Cave

Entrance to White Scar Cave

Mid-August we visited a private site – Thornbrook Barn, Ingleton in the Yorkshire Dales

http://www.thornbrookbarn.co.uk/

On arrival, we stocked up on some provisions at the Country Harvest shop just across the main road.  Then we checked in at the farmhouse on the way in along the driveway.  We stayed on super pitch no. 5.  Clean, modern facilities and a very spacious pitch.  Wish all sites offered this kind of space.  In the immediate area is a small, quaint hamlet, Thornton in Lonsdale.  We made use of the Marton Arms pub there on a couple of occasions. There is also the 12th century Church of St Oswald there in which Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes author) was married.

One day we cycled to visit White Scar Cave in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.  Discovered in 1923, it’s the longest show cave in Britain and you cover approximately one mile during the 80 minute tour.  The at times steep uphill journey there was well worth the effort, not to mention an exhilarating downhill cycle back afterwards, after which we spent some time out and about in Ingleton.   There’s also the challenging 3 peaks walks to do in this area, covering Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen-y-gent.

The weather could have been better, but that said, we had a very enjoyable weekend, postponing the waterfalls trail for our next visit due to heavy rain and wind which wouldn’t have made for a good walk or good photography

http://www.ingletonwaterfallstrail.co.uk/

We highly recommend this site.

Next stop beautiful Keswick.

ONWARDS!>>>>

Suzie & Bri