May

The May blog always seems  to include the arrival of the cuckoo and the local bluebells! This year I first heard the cuckoo on 30 April but neighbours had heard it earlier in the week.

Rannerdale bluebells are magnificent this year. Many visitors come to see them and for those who come by car parking is a problem. The bluebells themselves however are more protected now as the National Trust rangers have waymarked the path through the valley.

I am lucky enough to be able to go on foot from Foulsyke, about an hour’s walk from the door, going along Crummock shore which is a lovely walk even without the bluebells but I think the best way must be to come down through the valley at the end of a long day’s walk on the fells.

There are many places with beautiful bluebells at the moment. Holme Wood by Loweswater always looks lovely and Brackenthwaite Hows is a quiet place to enjoy both the bluebells and the views.

I was thinking the other day whilst walking the dog about flowers that get all the attention in Spring such as bluebells, primroses and cowslips and how other flowers seem to get overlooked. The delicate stitchwort on the verges is particularly lovely this year.

and the poppies along the wayside are looking particularly colourful.

Away from the flowers, I managed to visit our latest attraction, Bassenthwaite Lake Station, for lunch with friends earlier last week.

It is good to see the station revitalised and lunching in the train that was used for the film of Murder on the Orient Express was quite an experience! An added bonus was a quiet walk afterwards through the Silver Meadows Nature reserve – a place I have always wanted to go to but never made it.