July/August

Although the weather seems to have returned to normal, this summer has been memorable for the heatwave weather in June and July. The weather was so hot at times that guests going out for long days on the fells were leaving Foulsyke at 5 am to get most of the climbing done before the full heat of the day!

Have you noticed the fashion for building stone stack sculptures? There were several down at Crummock as the lake level got lower but I rather liked this somewhat precarious stack on top of Crinkle Crags.

There is a lot going on in Cumbria, the Lake District is not just lakes, fells and beautiful scenery and Theatre by the Lake in Keswick has excelled itself with this year’s summer plays in the Main House. Three very different plays, a hilarious and clever Jeeves and Wooster, Alan Bennett’s brilliant Single Spies and the final production, Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, had the audience laughing and clapping in their seats. They were all hugely enjoyable – I wouldn’t know which to recommend the most.

I have recently been to Penrith Station which has been decorated by Penrith Community Gardens. It is incredible and a wonderful welcome to visitors arriving by train.

There was even a yellow crochet covered bike. I have already told my son Paul that there is no way I am doing anything like that for the Tour of Britain which passes through Loweswater at the beginning of September – Gosh, Fang’s Brow a King of the Mountains climb!