Lazing in the sunshine - The Lakes

This cannot possibly be The Lakes, can it? I mean, it always rains here. The Lakes are one of the wettest regions in Britain. We have been here before, in summer  and it rained almost every day. But look at this weather! Ridiculously sunny and dry, maximum temperatures of 19 and 20 and 23. This is the view from the driveway of our cottage for the week.

Our home was a slated-roofed stone cottage on the edge of the village of Grasmere.

I really wanted to go fell walking, which means walking up those surrounding hills and mountains, enjoying the freedom of feeling like you are above and away from all the business of worldy life, but, alas  I am still using crutches to rest my darn knee. So, we did bus trips and short very easy strolls/hobbles. 

Buttermere

Look at those fells!

Honiston Pass on the bus. The bus drivers are incredible! Negotiating narrow winding roads, often pausing the squeeze past oncoming vehicles with millometers to spare.

Allan Bank in Grasmere, one of the houses William Wordsworth lived in.

I sat sketching in the bay window of the room that was once Wordworth's study while Sheryl went for a fell walk.

Coniston Lake. A cruise on the elegant 163 year old steam gondola. Surprisingly quiet.

Old Man Coniston is the highest peak above the lake and the village. On a previous visit, I climbed that mountain  surrounded by cloud and wind, a surreal experience.

Lunch in the village of Coniston, at the foot of the mountains.

Lake Windemere is the largest and busiest of the Lakes. Its towns are too busy for us.

Canada geese have joined the tourists and taken over. 

Our final day. The tiny hamlet of Skelwith Bridge has a lovely cafe with the best food and a deck on the forested River bank. 

After lunch we went for a walk up the river to the Langdale Valley and Elterwater. And then back to the cafe for the best scones and an iced coffee as it was hot in the sun.

This easy path is officially part of The Cumbria Way, one of the long distance walks on our list that we are now not doing for obvious reasons. All I can do is gaze longingly at those mountains at the end of the valley. My knee is improving. I walked over 2kms today, and even walked some of that without the crutches.

One of my favourite residents of The Lakes, a Herdwick sheep. A local native breed.

Tomorrow - we head north to another country.