The daftee-boy's birthday trip to the Lake District: 14th August 2016

Del and I recently spent a lovely day and a half in the Lake District, this time getting right out into the sticks, away from all the bloody walkers and tourists, which have previously marred our sojourns there, in places like Keswick and Windermere, simply because you can't move for folk! To really appreciate the stunning beauty of this part of England, you have to get off the beaten track.

Before lunch, we enjoyed a nice long walk around the wooded areas of Elterwater, heading towards Chapel Stile and beyond. Nice and peaceful, without a soul in sight. The sense of tranquility was palpable. Not often one can say that about the Lake District in peak season!

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Pile of Lakeland stone, just beside the path where we walked. On the way back, I picked up a couple of really nice bits (pretty heavy, though) and carried them back to the car, about a mile away at that point - certainly gave me an appetite for lunch!! The intention is to turn them into shelves to sit lamps on, for our new bespoke kitchen, which will have a very natural and organic feel to its design.


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Just showing how lovely and clear the water was in the stream running alongside us. Some nicely coloured stones, too:


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On the right, a nice pub we stopped at for a drink, on the way across the Hardknott Pass, at the tiny and remote little village of Boot:


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Shown below is the Britannia Inn, in the picturesque village of Elterwater, behind the village green, where we enjoyed a superb pub lunch. Very quaint and idyllic! Details here for anyone interested: http://thebritanniainn.com/food-drin...the-brit-.aspx


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The Stove restaurant, which was part of the Langdale Hotel, where we stayed, situated in the Langdale estate, just outside of Elterwater, where we enjoyed a superb dinner in beautiful surroundings:


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And at night, where the vibe was really cosy and intimate:


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Small reception check-in area, shown below. As the hotel rooms are dotted around the estate, you're given a small map with directions to your room! Ample parking facilities are provided right outside. This unconventional approach gives the hotel a very open, non-claustrophobic and relaxed feel, which is one of the things I liked most about it :)

Details for the hotel here: https://www.langdale.co.uk/index.html

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The spectacular Wrynose Pass, leading onto the even more spectacular Hardknott pass, where the scenery was breathtaking, but the roads were, shall we say, 'somewhat challenging'! :eek:

Details: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrynose_Pass

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Took my dad's little Honda for the journey (with its retractable panoramic roof), which was far more suited to these roads than the Brabster:


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Remote, rugged and just stunning - the pics don't do it justice...


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This is about as wide as the road got, and there were both sheer climbs, followed by blind bends, and sheer drops right at corners to contend with... It was certainly 'entertaining' when one met an oncoming car :eek:


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A nice little choo-choo... Ravensglass and Eskdale steam railway:


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The quaint little village of Boot:


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I think we must've taken a wrong turn somewhere.........


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:D :eyebrows:

Marco.

Lovely scenery, it really is a beautiful place. I think we often don't appreciate the beauty on our doorstep.

Thanks for taking the time to share the photos. Hotel looks nice!

Looks stunning, Marco, although I can't believe you left the Merc behind. I bet it would have made short work of the Hardknott Pass (despite the tractor engine under the bonnet!) :D ;)

Looks idyllic Marco. Some stunning scenery there for sure.

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Originally Posted by Beobloke

Looks stunning, Marco, although I can't believe you left the Merc behind. I bet it would have made short work of the Hardknott Pass (despite the tractor engine under the bonnet!) :D ;)

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Hehehehe.... In bits, yes, but honestly Adam, there were other parts of the road where, when you met on-coming traffic, even at the widest part of the road in the appointed 'Passing Places', you could hardly get a lolly-pop stick between both cars when you were side by side!! :eek:

The Merc would've been too wide, and I wouldn't have risked scratching it, just before it's going in to be 'detailed' next week: http://www.clbcarcare.co.uk/enhancem...tail-164-c.asp

I've been wanting to have that done for a while, but was waiting until we had our new car port built, which will be happening shortly, in order to ensure that the car is protected properly from the elements, after the work's been carried out. Should hopefully turn out nice, and save me a fortune in car washes! :)

Marco.

Fabulous post Marco, glad you and Dell had a good visit :thumbsup:

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Originally Posted by prestonchipfryer

Looks idyllic Marco. Some stunning scenery there for sure.

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Cheers, John. It was lovely - one of the nicest UK-based trips we've been on in a while. We intend to go back again before the end of the year and stay for a week, this time at the Brimstone, which is part of the same estate the Langdale was located in:

http://www.brimstonehotel.co.uk/?gcl...wsYaAqkG8P8HAQ

Marco.

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Originally Posted by Firebottle

Fabulous post Marco, glad you and Dell had a good visit :thumbsup:

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Cheers, Alan. We certainly did. I think you'd have enjoyed it, too :)

Marco.

Nice one Marco, it is a great part of the world. I have mountain biked Hardknott and wryness pass and crashed on one of them!:doh: Takes a bit of puff getting up them but the downhill is...:eek:

Lol - you're on your own with that. We met a few cyclists, and most were struggling to get up the sheer climbs! Ideally, I'd take a motorbike with me, to tackle those passes, as the ride would be thrilling! :eyebrows:

Marco.