Week Beginning 11th December 2016
A year ago we had a phone call from our booked accommodation
in the Lake District informing us that they had to cancel our booked holiday at
Fallbarrow Park because they had been flooded out, that was the great storm of
December 2015!
So we thought we would try again this December! This time we
were successful J
So Sunday we drove up to the Lakes, calling for coffee to
see our Grandchildren in Gloucester on the way. We were booked into the caravan
on the Monday, so we had to stay Sunday night elsewhere, we chose Morecambe
Travel Lodge so we could enjoy the fantastic scenery of Morecambe Bay.
The M5 was very busy as usual, with loads of road works,
bringing the speed down to 50mph max at times. At least there were no accidents
etc., it still took us 6 hours!
Once checked in the hotel, we walked out onto the front, to
see a spectacular sunset over the Bay, the ‘Tern project’ sculptures silhouetted
against the setting sun.
We followed this with a visit to the ‘Eric Morecambe’ Weatherspoon’s
pub for something to eat; this is where the disappointment with WS begins. We
noticed they had a nice veggie Wellington on their xmas menu, so went to order,
none left! Okay we will have the spicy burger with cranberry sauce, sorry no
cranberry sauce! So we settled on veggie burger and chips! Let’s have some
afters with a coffee, oooh! Look, mince pie or Christmas muffin, sorry sir!
Only 1 mince pie left and no muffins!!!! So half a mince pie it was to finish
off, at least the coffee was hot.
After a good night in the hotel we drove on to Bowness
visiting Grange for a walk, even though it was pouring rain.
A visit to Booths the supermarket in Windermere for some
extra groceries before finally arriving at ‘Fallbarrow’ at Bowness.
The caravan was the usual very high standard, lovely and
warm, the site was very quiet. After a nice cup of tea and chocolate digestives
a walk down to the ferries by the Lake before it got too dark. The mist was now
starting to form across the lake giving an eerie effect as it was just above
the lake surface.
Tuesday the weather forecast was poor, with heavy rain, but!
It wasn’t too bad, but we stayed local and walked around Bowness and down to
the ferry that crosses to the road leading to Beatrix Potters house, again the
mist produced some magical views across the lake.
looking towards Catbells over Derwent Water Keswick
A real winters view, with
greys and blues, the trees now stripped of leaves, leaving there black limbs
stretching into the sky. There was even some sunshine poking through at times.
The town was very Christmassy but there were lots of Japanese/Chinese tourists,
photographing everything and everyone in sight!
Lunch was at ‘Wilfs’ in Staveley the best café in the
country, his veggie chilli, always hits the spot!!! Followed by caramel
shortbread and tiffin! Ambleside was the next port of call, their Christmas
lights, very beautiful. A quick visit round the various climbing shops, all
full of the same kit at the same price! No bargains to be had. A late afternoon
run around Bowness and Windermere in the ever increasing gloom of the oncoming
evening, though very warm. My head torch was useful at times, 6 miles covered.
Wednesdays forecast was better so a walk over Grasmere way
was planned, parking at Rydal Hall, unfortunately the parking had been
withdrawn so we had to find parking elsewhere. We parked at Whitemoss and
followed the coffin road over to Rydal Hall tearooms for coffee, a shocking
£2:75 for a Latte, no scones!!! So shortbread instead.
Rydal Water
Rydal water
Caves above Rydal water
We continued our walk round Rydal Water via the Caves which
are always impressive. The day was dark, damp and misty, but warm. The views
were lovely, there were even signs of patches of snow on the higher peaks we
could see and we saw very few other people. We saved lunch until we got back to
the car, so a late lunch of cheese and pickle sandwiches!
Thursday was Keswick day, we drove over the newly repaired
A591, badly damaged in last winter’s storms, closing it for a long time. Coffee
and scones in Booths supermarket before a visit to the climbing shops, I even
purchased a new cycling jacket, a Paramo Ciclo waterproof, I am a fan of Paramo
as I think it works for me better than Goretex and can be reproofed.
Wetherspoons curry was lunch, in the old law courts complete
with cells!
Derwent Water near Keswick
Derwent water near Keswick
Afternoon was spent along the shores of the Lake, looking
very peaceful in the grey winter light, Catbells dominating the skyline. It was
very quiet with few people around. An evening in with Mulled wine and salted
peanuts, but I did manage another 6 mile run before tea again.
Friday we were due to drive down to Lancaster and stay
overnight before the long trek back home, calling again to see the
grandchildren. We were up early, tidied the van and then loaded up the car,
there seemed a lot more to pack in than when we came up! We had a last walk
down to the lake, it was beautiful and peaceful, ducks and swans upended
searching for their breakfast, and a low mist hung over the lake, time to
depart once again. We dropped the key
off at reception and then headed for Wilfs for a breakfast, pot of tea and a
double egg butty with brown sauce, lovely!!! We fully recommend Wilfs in the
yard at Staveley near the bike shop.
We drove to Lancaster down the back scenic route, hitting
Lancaster just before lunch; the traffic was horrendous as we tried to find the
hotel and a car park close to it!! But the one close to it was full so parking
at that time was at least a quarter of a mile away, a downside of a Travel
Lodge in a city centre. We had a wander round the very busy city, eating a
sandwich in front of Queen Victoria near the impressive building that was the
council offices. We had had enough of the busy town so decided to escape to the
coast once again and a pleasant walk along the front once again at Morecambe.
By the time we returned back to the hotel we were able to park in the car park
outside the hotel, phew!!! That’s saved some work carrying our bags. A cup of
tea and a rest before it was time once again to find somewhere for tea [or if you
prefer dinner! This is where we were utterly amazed, it was six o clock the
town was heaving with party goers, most pubs and restaurant very full and most
advertising ‘no food after 5pm due to parties’ so it was a visit to Sainsbury’s
for a sandwich, crisps and cake, an evening back in the hotel rather than a
night on the town.
Saturday we were off by 7 am to try to avoid traffic, which
went fine until junct 14 on the M6 they had closed the motorway because of an
accident, fortunately we were only stopped for 20 minutes, the rest of the journey
went without incident but it was a good four hours before we saw the
grandchildren once again, we had a pleasant afternoon, playing with them all
before our final last bit of the journey another hour and a half. We were glad
to arrive home, tired and hungry, a trip to the chip shop filled the gap!
It had been a lovely week away once again, the weather had
not been too good, but it was very warm and lovely and quiet around the lakes, it’s
just the journey these days, far too busy on the M5/M6 it would be nice to go
again next Christmas.
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