lovely lakes

We've been treated to some pretty spectacular country scenery (and cuisine!) since my last update. After we successfully navigated our way out of central London and onto the M25 (with only a few minor disagreements over eachother's sense of direction!), we had a night's stopover in Worcester to visit Dave's cousin Kirsty and her family. A home cooked meal, family company and a drink at the local pub were just what we needed after our few hectic days in London and motorway travels!

The weekend saw us head up into the Lakes District, which is even more picturesque than I expected. We reunited with Dave's parents in Kendal, one of the larger towns in the Lakes District, and thoroughly enjoyed a few catch up drinks in the very sunny hotel beer garden. I was nominated as chief itinerary planner for our weekend in the Lakes and with Bill as designated driver on Saturday, we headed into Windermere and Bowness for a ferry tour on Lake Windermere. While the clouds appeared threatening, we were fortunate enough to have the rain hold off for this very scenic tour. A few hours of sightseeing always seems to work up a good hunger so we stopped into another village, Cartmel, for lunch.  This has been one of my favourite places on the trip so far, with wonderfully old stone buildings, hidden laneways and potted colour hanging baskets at the entrance to every shop.  The Royal Arms Hotel cooked us up some traditional english pub fare - steak and kidney pie for Dave, game pie for KPPG - finished off with a pint in the beer garden out the back with river views.  Something which continually amazes me is all the fantastic outdoor spaces at pubs and restaurants, and while we've been lucky to be here at a time of the year to take full advantage of them, there is so much of the year that would simply be too cold and miserable to use them.

Dave and his Dad required some coaxing to the next stop in the Lakes District itinerary - Beatrix Potter's house at Hawkeshead, known as Hill Top.  This is where she did most of her writings and many aspects of it feature in her stories.  The house itself has been incredibly well maintained by the National Trust and welcomes thousands of visitors each year.  As an avid Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddleduck fan, I thoroughly enjoyed wandering around the beautifully kept gardens and exploring the rooms in the country house.  Apparently, when Beatrix married she deemed the house far too small for two people (nb. it was about 3 times the size of Dave and my flat!) and they had to move to a larger abode in a nearby village.

With our trusty road atlas at the ready, we departed the Lakes District on Sunday and headed up to Scotland - Shepherd heartland! The scenery quickly changed from the leafy narrow country roads of the Lakes District to vast expanses of rolling hills of the Scottish lowlands.  Much of it reminded me of scenes out of Braveheart, with the odd derelict castle dotted throughout the countryside. It appears our Scotland travels will have to be conveyed in the next instalment as Dave is hurrying me along to finish up this entry!

xxxx