April 26th Week 5 of Lockdown

Week 5 of lockdown has been another gloriously sunny week, it was quite windy and cool at first but then it became very warm and still. There has been no rain at all this month, it is very dry everywhere and the lakes and rivers are noticeably low. I feel so sad for everyone who should have been here enjoying such beautiful settled weather.

As I walked down the road past Nether Close to Crummock last Monday morning I wondered about perhaps looking at roads and paths in this week’s news but then other things caught my attention like the cave in Lanthwaite Wood which just happened to have a shaft of sunlight going into it.

However thinking about paths took me up the Mosedale valley which was an old rather boggy route to Ennerdale. I went as far as the holly tree which is marked on the OS map as the Mosedale Holly Tree and, according to Wainwright, is the only tree in Lakeland to be given a name! It is also referenced in Margaret Forster’s book, ‘The Memory Box’, on a walk to Scale Force.

On the way home I went into the  now empty car park at the Kirkstile with its superb backdrop of Melbreak and could not help but think about the enormity of what is happening at the present time.

Another tree which stands out locally is the lone pine on the side of Low Fell above Foulsyke. It would be really interesting to know its history.

Foulsyke and Crummock Water from the lone pine

As I said at the beginning it became very still towards the end of the week and the reflections in the lakes were truly amazing so here are a few of the many pictures I took.

Crummock before Max went for his morning swim.

Reflection of Melbreak

Sheep going for a drink at Crummock by the kissing gate

Max being hopeful of a swim at Loweswater

I was hoping to have some pictures from yesterday’s  bike ride but unfortunately I had a puncture five miles from Foulsyke on a rough road beyond Rogerscale. The moral of this story is to always carry a spare inner tube! It was a long walk home.

Look after yourselves

Joan

19 April Week 4 of Lock Down

We are now into the fourth week of staying at home and the sun keeps on shining. Some of you may wonder why there are no pictures on the fells but we have been asked by Mountain Rescue not to go onto them.

Last Wednesday I decided to go along to Ling Crag, the previous time I went the cloud was down so I thought it would be nice to get some pictures where you could see the tops of the fells. I had a lovely walk along the shore and was about to sit down on the promontory when the F15s decided to fly down the lake! The noise was incredible and then after they had passed there was another roar but this time it was from the lake and the water started churning. I could hardly believe it but then they flew past again and the same thing happened.

After I had my coffee and had thrown Max’s ball into the lake for him I walked further along to the bridge towards Buttermere: it was worth it for the view coming back.

Many of my walks are variations of Crummock shoreline so here are a couple of spots which many of you will be very familiar with.

One of the positives at the moment is that we seem to be seeing more red squirrels about both in gardens and in the woods. I saw one in Lanthwaite Wood one morning, it was running across the undergrowth but by the time I had got my camera out it was up a tree – can you spot him?

I think one of the loveliest aspects this past week have been the hedgerows and roadside verges.

Bluebells by Nether Close

Surprise cowslips by Crabtree Beck

Jack in the hedge everywhere – this is a plant that always makes me smile

And I couldn’t leave out the hedge along the lane coming back up to Foulsyke from Crummock.

Look after yourselves

Joan

12 April Week 3 of lockdown

Today is Easter Sunday, coming to the end of the third week of lockdown.

During the past week Spring really seems to be arriving, the verges have started to take off and the Jack in the Hedge will very soon be in flower. The trees in the woods have suddenly become a lot greener and underneath there are carpets of white wood anemones. These were on the riverside path through Lanthwaite Wood.

There is still however a very surprising reminder of winter by the boathouse at Crummock, why this holly tree holds onto its berries I do not know.

The other morning I went up onto Brackenthwaite Hows, a favourite walk.

The views from there are wide ranging and you can see the whole of the layout of the valley.

It was very hazy and still on Good Friday. I decided  to go out on my bike to Buttermere: it was beautiful but quite eerie.

There was no-one about apart from a few cyclists and some farm vehicles (and a police car). The sheep are the kings of the road. I could also stop on the roadside to take pictures!

I was rather pleased with this picture of the Buttermere pines.

A knock on effect from the lock down:  the chickens no longer need to be in lock down.

Take care,

Joan

Later…….. a cuckoo was in heard the woods today which is very early.

5 April Second week of lock down

All my walks at present are from the door and I think as we are more restricted we are much more aware of our surroundings. Loweswater is a quiet place at the best of times but it is noticeable how much quieter it is at the moment, probably like it was fifty years ago. The bird song however is beautiful.

There are more lambs about this week, these herdwicks are just along the lane.

I came across the 87s along the Hopebeck road.

Several of my walks are obviously down to Crummock by a variety of routes. Many of you will recognise the tree sculpture in the bay at the foot of Melbreak. It definitely does have four legs and it has been referred to as many things from an elephant (although it has now lost its trunk) to a dinosaur.

Last Thursday I decided to walk along the Melbreak side of Crummock to the promontory by Ling Crag. I thought I would try to take a similar photograph to the Abrahams’ Solitude one where the end of the promontory blocks the lake behind. I didn’t get it quite right but I quite liked the photo I took, despite the low cloud!

Sadly we are very aware of death and our own mortality at this time: Loweswater churchyard is a beautiful place to have a quiet think.

One of the graves that always makes me smile is that of Chris Todd, who as his gravestone reads ’Gathered these fells for 60 years’

Take care

Joan

Hope you like the larger pics, also if you click on one it will now enlarge – thank you Paul!