Friday 30 August 2019

Walking in Sunshine

I know I've mentioned previously that I haven't  spent as much time as I'd have liked walking in the Lakes this year. Frustratingly, reasonable weather conditions never seem to coincide with time off work and school. Walking on the fells in wind and rain is definitely not my idea of fun and, if I'm putting in some effort, I do at least like to be rewarded with a half decent view from the summit. So you can imagine how excited I was to discover we would have several days of beautiful sunshine and warm weather to fill over the Bank Holiday weekend.

                                








I've been building up a little folder of walks I'd like to complete, so I already knew of route which, hopefully, wouldn't prove too strenuous given the hot weather.
On Sunday morning, starting from the lovely little village of Braithwaite, we followed a clear pathway up and over Stile End, which was a straightforward but very steep climb. Then from Barrow Door we climbed Barrow, where we stopped a little way beyond the summit (and the flying ants!) for some chocolate. All I can say is thank goodness for ice packs, because without one we would have been drinking it. It was so hot! The heather is in flower at the moment and the fells looked absolutely stunning against the blue of the sky. There was barely a breeze, even on the summits and I was glad we had chosen an early start for our walk, as by the time we returned to the village it was beginning to get very hot indeed. Thankfully we were able to enjoy our picnic lunch sat beneath the shade of a large oak tree.








Following a more restful day on Monday, by the following morning we were raring to go again. This time we went up Great Mell fell, just north of Ullswater. Around a year and a half ago Lily and I climbed up Little Mell Fell, while we were camping in the area (blog post here), where you can see Great Mell Fell in the distance (last photograph).
This was such a lovely walk and the gentle climb belied the height we were to eventually reach at the summit, where we ate our lunch enjoying the glorious views over to Blencathra and beyond. The fell itself is scattered with pines and larches which adds to it's character, the lower slopes swathed in bracken. Slightly away from the more popular fells meant it was so very quiet  there and a far cry from the walk we had  experienced two days earlier.

The sunny weather meant we were really able to make the most of our weekend and has made me even more determined to make the most of any opportunity to get out on the fells again.
And look! One of our sunflowers has finally opened up. 🌻🌻🌻


J. X

54 comments:

  1. Oh what absolutely blissful views Jules and it looks so peaceful. Unfortunately I'm unable to walk up hills due to an old back injury but boy I wish I could when I see scenes like that.
    Gorgeous sunflower....they always make me smile.
    Hugs-x-

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    1. They were two lovely walks, Sheila and while we were up on the fells I did say a few quiet words of gratitude that I am fortunate to experience such beautiful scenery.
      Sunflowers are great aren't they. So cheerful and bright. X

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  2. Fabulous photos Jules, you certainly got some great weather for your walks and the heather in bloom makes your shots even more stunning. Nice to see one of lily's sunflowers has opened too :)

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    1. Thank you, Eunice. It is a pleasant surprise when the sunny weather arrives in time for a Bank Holiday, and seeing the heather in flower made it all the more special. X

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  3. The Lake District is beautiful, we spent 2 days there a few years ago on our 25th wedding anniversary tour, I would love to go back and spend more time there in the future.
    Enjoy your weekend. xx

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    1. It's a very special place, Marlene and I remember reading about your trip. I hope you get the chance to visit again soon. X

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  4. What a glorious time you had!!! The photos are marvelous.

    And a beautiful sunflower! Lily must be thrilled.

    ✨🌻✨

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    1. Thank you, WoW. It looks beautiful in the sunshine. X

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  5. Beautiful photos. What a fabulous last hurrah summer has given us, such a gorgeous bank holiday weekend with the sunshine and blue skies. Your sunflower was definitely worth the wait.

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    1. Thank you, Jo. It does feel like summer's last hurrah, here in the north, at least. I would like to be proven wrong.
      We have another sunflower now, although it is facing the wrong way. X

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  6. Perfect conditions indeed. It was a real treat to have a sunny bank holiday. Your photos are glorious of a very beautiful part of the world. Love the heather. Have a good weekend, hopefully with more walking. B x

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    1. They were perfect conditions for me, although a little too hot for some I think. It was lovely to see the heather colouring the fells. X

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  7. Wow, it's gorgeous! I know what you mean about having shade; it makes all of the difference. We are spoiled with all of the sunshine we get in California. That sunflower is spectacular.

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    1. I don't mind the heat, but it was a relief to enjoy our lunch under the shade of the tree following our walk. X

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  8. It even looks hot in your photos - the heather is glorious. Beautiful picture of the sunflower too. It is windy here today but I am not complaining as it is doing wonders to soften my towels on the line.x

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    1. It was hot but it was a great opportunity to get out and enjoy the fells - no waterproofs required! X

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  9. Glorious photos!! That heather is stunning; purple as far as the eye can see! Alas my Bank Holiday weekend was spent sweltering in work, but we had a lovely morning out on Tuesday. The weather here was ridiculously hot over the B/H weekend, but is now mercifully cooler. Your sunflower is gorgeous. Best, Jane x

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    1. It was lovely to see the heather in flower. It's amazing how different the fells appear throughout the changing seasons. X

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  10. Such beautiful photos! It is so lovely to see such familiar landscapes. We love Great Mell Fell we have friends who live really close and we often spend a morning or afternoon on the slopes building dens and observing the wildlife. So glad that you were able to get and do some walking when the weather was so amazing over the bank holiday. It is such a shame that it has been so awful this past week and for much of August, I really feel for all the children for whom this is their holiday and it is not fun to be out and about in the wind and rain.

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    1. I'd never climbed it before, so I had no idea what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised by how quiet it was, compared to our walk up Barrow, and the views are stunning. You must enjoy spending your time there. X

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  11. Such beautiful scenery! Your sunflower looks lovely, too!

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    1. Thank you, Bless. Another one of our sunflowers has opened up now! X

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  12. Wonderful. Last time we went to Catbells above Derwentwater there were flying ants. Must be the time of year.

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    1. I thought we had seen the last of them this year. It must have been the heat of the day. X

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  13. Beautiful photographs as always Jules. You did very well in the heat we has at the weekend, I don't think I'd be climbing hills anywhere.

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    1. Thank you, Tania. I don't mind the heat, but the walks weren't too strenuous. X

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  14. You live in such a beautiful area, Jules. The photos are breathtaking!

    Have a wonderful weekend.

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  15. I have just spent a good part of my lunchtime trying to imagine myself on those paths and recognise the various fells. I'm ashamed to say that my ability to remember those tracks (an area I didn't walk in very often despite staying in the Keswick area for many holidays). As my main Lake District walking was done over the best part of 50 years ago I might, however, forgive myself. So the rest of the time looking at your post was spent just imagining myself there. I enjoyed that. Thank you. I hope that you spend many happy years tramping the fells and that you get as much or even more enjoyment than I did.

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    1. The landscape and pathways over the fells can look very different depending on the season. It was lovely to see the heather in flower.
      I'm so pleased you enjoyed the photographs. X

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  16. You live in a wonderful part of our country. The scenery is breathtaking. I'm ashamed to say I don't explore enough of Dartmoor, near us. Obviously I've been there thousands of times in my life, but there is so much I haven't seen. Love your sunflower! It's the first year I haven't grown them, so will get on to it again next summer :)

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    1. It's always fun to explore. It's surprising what can be discovered.
      We've been away for a couple of days and we have returned to find five sunflowers fully opened up now. X

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  17. I am so happy the weather cooperated for the Bank holiday weekend and you were able to get outdoors and enjoy it! Your photos are absolutely stunning! Your sunflower is beautiful!

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    1. Thank you, Julia. We have five sunflowers now! A little later than expected but very welcome. X

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  18. such a beautiful post, and your photos are magazine worthy. x

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  19. Lovely, lovely, lovely. It is a magical place, the Lakes, isn't it? Hopefully we'll be up next year to do some running xx

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    1. Thank you, CT. It's a wonderful place to run if the weather is agreeable, although there were some fell runners up on Barrow who said they wouldn't have gone out if they'd realised how hot it was going to be. X

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  20. You live in such a beautiful area and the heather on the hills is stunning. I'm so glad you had great weather to be able to enjoy the walk and the views. The sunflower is gorgeous. xx Susan

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    1. Thank you, Susan. It was lovely to see the heather in flower and we were so fortunate to get such a beautiful day for our walk. We have five sunflowers now! Two more to go. X

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  21. Oh just W O W !
    Such fabulous photographs, what a lovely walk and amazing views.

    So nice to see the cheerful sunflower too :)

    Have a wonderful September and hope back to school goes well.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thanks, Jan. I'm hoping to be back out on the fells this weekend. X

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  22. Jules, your photos - as always - are a complete joy.That beautiful purple heather, Lily's gorgeous blonde hair and that brilliant yellow sunflower are postcard worthy.
    October half-term was always spent walking in The Lakes with my parents, Dad, a former mountaineer, striding forward in his breeches and Aran jumper with Mum stumbling behind, always in unsuitable footwear and worried about her hair (I wonder who I take after?!) xxx

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    1. Thanks, Vix. This made me chuckle, although in my case it's usually Lily striding out in front, after her initial protestations, of course! X

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  23. Beautiful photos! Gorgeous place!

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    1. Thank you, Angela. It's a beautiful part of The Lakes. X

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  24. I love the Lakes....the prettiness of the southern ones and the more rugged scenery in the north. I used to spend time occasionally in Eskdale (work) and have spent many lovely breaks close to Rydal Water and Derwentwater. It's a beautiful part of the country. How lovely to live so close.

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    1. It's a beautiful area, Eloise. We've been fortunate enough to spend part of this last weekend in the northern Lakes, close to Bassenthwaite. X

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  25. Absolutely glorious post, Jules, I've been back and read it through again because those photos are SOOOOO beautiful. I'm glad you were able to get out and make the most of the bank holiday weekend. x

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    1. Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed the photographs. We've been out walking again this weekend, although the weather wasn't as sunny. X

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  26. Oh gads, you posted this two weeks ago . . . how in Creation's Name do new Mum's cope with a baby, or (worse) an over-active toddler?

    But I wanted to say "GORGEOUS" and I am stupidly pleased with myself that I recognised both of your walking routes from the pictures before I got to the text. I credit that not to my knowledge of the Lake District, but to your fabulous photographs. xx

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    1. Thank you, Jayne. We were lucky enough to enjoy some beautiful weather for both of our walks. The scenery speaks for itself. X

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  27. Ah those views... so beautiful! I've not yet had time to see the heather looks its best around here!

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    1. They're not too shabby are they? It was lovely to see the heather against the bright blue of the sky. X

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