During this year I shall be posting photographs from places around the UK, many of which have not been published before. Where I have previously blogged about a location I will provide a link to the post, though you won’t be able to comment on it as I restrict comments to six months.
G is for Grasmere
Is there any landscape more beautiful in England than the Lake District? Known for its glacial ribbon lakes, rugged fell mountains and historic literary associations. Throw in a few market towns, lakeside walks and cruises, good food and fresh air. Lots of fresh air.
Reflections in Grasmere Lake
It has links with the Lake Poets: William and Dorothy Wordsworth lived in Grasmere for 14 years and called it “the loveliest spot that man hath ever found.”
The Lake District lies in north-west England and is one of the most beautiful regions in the country, if you like lakes and hills. High hills as seen behind this pretty house which is located on the banks of Grasmere lake. Surrounded by a pretty woodland garden, this sturdy stone-built house has curved sash windows, an extended roofline and a covered verandah. I could see myself sitting on that verandah on a swing seat piled high with cushions, a cat curled up in the sunny spot, a table cluttered with garden magazines, potted plants and coffee cups…
Lambs gambolling in the fields
…admiring the view
Lake Grasmere
Please visit Paula to see other representations of this week’s challenge.
Whilst in the Lake District last month – time flies – we did a couple of lakeside walks. One, around the pretty picture postcard village of Grasmere is about 3 miles long which is long enough for me, especially as on this day, rain threatened. The lake is one of the smallest and a full circuit should not take long unless, like me, you stop to take dozens of photographs. The start and end of the walk is on the road, but it is fairly level once you reach the lake shore and there is a lovely lakeside beach at the southern end.
After wandering around the lovely village for half an hour or so, we headed off along Red Bank at the west of the village (near the church) and up hill where stunning homes nestle amongst the woodland filled with vibrant pinks and mauves of rhododendrons.
Where fayries wander
Selma and Siri’s Lakeland cousins perhaps?
and bright yellow Welsh poppies huddle alongside the hedgerows. In fact I am reminded of Wales here. Though it feels lighter somehow.
Red Bank
Beautiful Woodland
Pretty cottage
The Garden House
One, the wooden Garden House, appealed to me, but I dare say the price is high as well as the terraced garden, but oh, what a view.
The road continued meandering around bends, with no sight of a lake.
Then, a glimpse, through the trees and not long after we found the rough track leading down to the shoreline.
Careful with those loose stones
A neat track to the shore
And a lovely house by the side
The views once we reached the shore were amazing. Lush green fells rearing up all the way around the lake, the village now shrouded in cloud and to the south, just a glimpse of the beach we were heading to.
And neat wooden boardwalks to help us safely over the streams that feed into the lake.
Boadwalk
A family of shovellers
Lakeside Path
Ripples in the rainLakeside Path
The path follows the shoreline until you reach the southern end, where you head up slightly into woodland, before coming out onto the beach. This must be a lovely place for a picnic in the summer months. It was, however, a little drizzly today.
But with beautiful reflections in the mirror-like surface
We found more people at this end of the lake (and discovered later that there is a car-park not too far away), some sitting admiring the view, others walking their dogs, and other fit people climbing up the fell behind us.
Now we had to decide which way to go. There was no obvious sign, so we headed over the wooden bridge and into the woodland. Only to get lost. Later we realised that we should have simply followed the path alongside the river as that led to the road and car-park. It was awfully wet though.
Into the wood
Finally, after doubling back on ourselves a couple of times, we found a way out of the wood and onto the very busy A591 road which leads to Windermere. Fortunately we only had a few metres to walk before hitting the pavement which took us back into Grasmere. Can you spot that lovely house overlooking the lake?
A last view of the lake at the northern end.
If you enjoy a walk, short or long, then you may enjoy visiting Jo’s Monday Walk where you are in for a treat.
Visiting the beautiful Vale of Grasmere in the heart of the English Lake District I couldn’t help photographing some of the interesting buildings and windows in the pretty village.
Above: The National Trust Shop and the Storytellers Cottage.
(click on an image to enlarge and scroll through the gallery)
Some of the pretty tourist shops and cafés in the village.
And the most sumptuous Victorian Villa with lacy barge-boards and wonderful conservatory windows.
TRAVEL WORDS 