The weather had improved by the time we got up for breakfast. It was still very overcast but it wasn't raining. The Met Office web site said that the current temperature in Keswick was only 11C and there was a 10mph breeze.
Previously, we had thought that the hotel reminded us of Fawlty Towers – not because of the service but because of the style of the hotel. This impression was reinforced at breakfast because two of the waiters were Spanish. However, they both gave us great service – unlike Manuel.
After breakfast we walked the short distance to the town centre to visit the tourist information office which is located in a building called Moot Hall in the town square. Overnight a market had sprung up in the town square.
We wanted to do a walk near the lake but Suzy didn’t want it to be a long and arduous walk. So they recommend a 5km walk along the lake and back via a lookout above the lake. We also bought a comprehensive road map of the Lake District so we could go for a drive later in the day.
On the way back to the hotel, Suzy spotted a clothes shop that had a sale. So she went into the shop while I went back to the hotel – taking photos of the town along the way.
We set off on our walk at about 10am. It still wasn’t raining but it was very cool – we were glad we had our fleeces and rain jackets. Some people had beanies and gloves. I was soon wishing I was wearing mine too. (Remember this is mid-June – summertime.)
The lake was very pretty despite the cold, overcast weather. It was clearly a popular walk because we saw lots of people going in both directions, many of them of them with dogs. There were numerous signs asking people to keep their dogs on a leash because it was lambing season.
One of the unexpected spectacles during the walk was a fighter jet flying over the lake at a very low altitude. I doubt that the fly-pass for just for us but we enjoyed it anyway.
We took a wrong turn at one stage and ended up going about 1km further than we would have if we’d followed the standard walk. On the way back, we encountered a few light showers.
I climbed to the top of the hill overlooking the lake. It was worth the climb because the view was fabulous.
Back in town, we found a delightful little café for lunch. It had a great atmosphere and excellent coffee. It must have had internet reception because we were just about the only ones there without a laptop.
At the tourist office this morning, we had booked a boat trip around the lake. The trip lasts 50 minutes and goes right around the lake.
The lake is called Derwent Water. If you think the name sounds familiar, you’re right because this is where they make Derwent Pencils. There is a museum in town about the pencil factory but we didn’t get time to go there.
We had light showers during most of the boat trip but towards the end, it started to fine up. When we got back to the wharf, there were hundreds of ducks and geese on the water and on the beach in amongst the people.
Next we went for a drive to Grasmere to visit Dove Cottage which is where William Wordsworth (“I wandered lonely as a cloud . . .”) lived during his most productive years. Although, he died about 150 years ago, his house is about 400 years old and is very well preserved. There is museum next door where we learnt more about his life and his friends such as Samuel Coleridge (Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner) who also lived in the area.
Next we drove back north past Keswick to the town of Cockermouth where Wordsworth was born.
From there we did a delightful drive back to Keswick past several lakes (Drummock Water, Buttermere and Derwent Water again). The views of the lakes were breathtaking.
The road was a narrow windy rural road. Often there was insufficient width to get past cars coming in the opposite direction. In fact, there were some sections of the road in which the sign-posted width was only 6’6” (2m).
Towards the end of the trip, we went up through a pass (Honister Pass) with sign-posted gradients of up to 25%. (The normal maximum road gradient is 6%). At the top of the pass was a slate mine and museum.
One of the hazards along the way was grazing sheep who wandered aimlessly across the road and through the little towns.
Whenever I could find a safe place to stop, I’d get out of the car to take photos. It was well worth the time to make this drive.
For dinner, we found a nice pub in the centre of town. The food and service were very good.
Click here to see my photos for this day.
Previously, we had thought that the hotel reminded us of Fawlty Towers – not because of the service but because of the style of the hotel. This impression was reinforced at breakfast because two of the waiters were Spanish. However, they both gave us great service – unlike Manuel.
After breakfast we walked the short distance to the town centre to visit the tourist information office which is located in a building called Moot Hall in the town square. Overnight a market had sprung up in the town square.
We wanted to do a walk near the lake but Suzy didn’t want it to be a long and arduous walk. So they recommend a 5km walk along the lake and back via a lookout above the lake. We also bought a comprehensive road map of the Lake District so we could go for a drive later in the day.
On the way back to the hotel, Suzy spotted a clothes shop that had a sale. So she went into the shop while I went back to the hotel – taking photos of the town along the way.
We set off on our walk at about 10am. It still wasn’t raining but it was very cool – we were glad we had our fleeces and rain jackets. Some people had beanies and gloves. I was soon wishing I was wearing mine too. (Remember this is mid-June – summertime.)
The lake was very pretty despite the cold, overcast weather. It was clearly a popular walk because we saw lots of people going in both directions, many of them of them with dogs. There were numerous signs asking people to keep their dogs on a leash because it was lambing season.
One of the unexpected spectacles during the walk was a fighter jet flying over the lake at a very low altitude. I doubt that the fly-pass for just for us but we enjoyed it anyway.
We took a wrong turn at one stage and ended up going about 1km further than we would have if we’d followed the standard walk. On the way back, we encountered a few light showers.
I climbed to the top of the hill overlooking the lake. It was worth the climb because the view was fabulous.
Back in town, we found a delightful little café for lunch. It had a great atmosphere and excellent coffee. It must have had internet reception because we were just about the only ones there without a laptop.
At the tourist office this morning, we had booked a boat trip around the lake. The trip lasts 50 minutes and goes right around the lake.
The lake is called Derwent Water. If you think the name sounds familiar, you’re right because this is where they make Derwent Pencils. There is a museum in town about the pencil factory but we didn’t get time to go there.
We had light showers during most of the boat trip but towards the end, it started to fine up. When we got back to the wharf, there were hundreds of ducks and geese on the water and on the beach in amongst the people.
Next we went for a drive to Grasmere to visit Dove Cottage which is where William Wordsworth (“I wandered lonely as a cloud . . .”) lived during his most productive years. Although, he died about 150 years ago, his house is about 400 years old and is very well preserved. There is museum next door where we learnt more about his life and his friends such as Samuel Coleridge (Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner) who also lived in the area.
Next we drove back north past Keswick to the town of Cockermouth where Wordsworth was born.
From there we did a delightful drive back to Keswick past several lakes (Drummock Water, Buttermere and Derwent Water again). The views of the lakes were breathtaking.
The road was a narrow windy rural road. Often there was insufficient width to get past cars coming in the opposite direction. In fact, there were some sections of the road in which the sign-posted width was only 6’6” (2m).
Towards the end of the trip, we went up through a pass (Honister Pass) with sign-posted gradients of up to 25%. (The normal maximum road gradient is 6%). At the top of the pass was a slate mine and museum.
One of the hazards along the way was grazing sheep who wandered aimlessly across the road and through the little towns.
Whenever I could find a safe place to stop, I’d get out of the car to take photos. It was well worth the time to make this drive.
For dinner, we found a nice pub in the centre of town. The food and service were very good.
Click here to see my photos for this day.
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