Lake District, June 2019. Day 6

A hectic morning as everyone packed to leave this morning.  Surprisingly after last night's heavy rain it remained dry.  Peter and Linda needed to get straight off while the rest of us went to Wilf's in Stavely for an excellent breakfast.  The decision, then was to drive over the spectacular Kirkstone pass and down into Glenridding and Patterdale to Aira force where we enjoyed an excellent circular walk taking in the famous falls which were in full flow.  Once back down at the car park we treated ourselves to tea and stickies in the rather good National Trust cafe.  Thomas and were then keen to drive up to the head of Ullswater to have another go at photographing the Duke of Pentland Boathouse, now a luxury holiday let sleeping 6.

Finally it was time to return to the site where Thomas and Beth and Alejandro had to leave for home.  Heather and I retired to the caravan for a cup of tea and a walk out to 'The Tree' followed by a quiet evening and finishing up Beth's excellent chilli.

Lake District, October 2018. Day 2

After a dry night we woke to find that the flood waters on the site had drained away.  It was, though, much cooler than yesterday's 20+C.  After a very lazy start we moved at the end of the morning calling in first at Ings Services and Biketrex before setting off for Ullswater and Treefold North, one of the links in The Longview network of seven remarkable trees.  The drive over the Kirkstone Pass was beautiful and dramatic as usual with views down into the head of the Trout beck Valley and the Troutbeck Alder and once over the summit down to Ullswater.  On the way over the pass we could see brighter weather moving in from the west.  The sky soon cleared to leave a beautiful Autumn afternoon.  We had made a slight error of judgement, however, when, despite three trips round the car park at Aira Force we could find no parking spot.  Realising that It was Sunday we returned to the cafe in Glenridding and then returned to a different parking spot.  In order to find the Treefold we then set off along The Ullswater Way back towards Aira Force.  We were rewarded with excellent views through trees and bracken glowing golden in the afternoon  sun to the lake below.  We soon found the Treefold with its entrance aligned with The Glencoyne Pine high on the fellside.  Unlike Treefold East a year ago, Treefold North has had an oak planted within it.  We wish it well.  Like the Little Asby Treefold this one has the words of a line of Harriet Fraser's poem inscribed on its walls:

roots deep

years weathered 

taking the long view

Hoping that Treefold East at Little Asby now has its tree we returned to the car with plans to walk to The Wasdale Oak tomorrow.   Before returning to the site we drove to the end of the lake at Pooley Bridge looking for photographs.  When we got back we were greeted by mouth-watering aromas of beef in beer coming from the slow cooker, one of the best investments we have made for the caravan.  Rehydration was, of course, essential.

Lake District, April 2018. Day 4

Inspired by Rob and Harriet Fraser's The Long View over the last few visits up to The Lakes we have been walking to each of the seven remarkable trees.  This week it was the turn of the Glencoyne Pine.  A magnificent statuesque scots pine reminiscent of a patriarch of the ancient forest of Caledonia it stands perched high above Ullswater on the edge of a precipitous slope down to Glencoyne Park on the shores of the lake.  Not wanting to tackle the diretissima from the lake shore I had planned a round walk from the National Trust car park at Air Force.  Picking up the others at Ings and we drove over the Kirkstone pass with sperb views down towards the Troutbeck Alder where we had walked in March and as we descended down to Patterdale, Glenridding and Ullswater itself.  Having reached the car park, the immediate necessity was coffee and cake in the excellent National Trust cafe.  Refreshed it was time to gird up our loins and climb up past the spectacular waterfalls of Aira force.  This is a beautiful spot and a couple of years I spent a happy couple of hours here photographing them.
To view large, please click on an image

At the top of the falls it was time to stop for a team photograph before continuing up the climb towards 'our' tree.

Heading on the flat across the moor we crossed the road and then scrambled up beside an old quarry.  Linda began to question my route finding abilities at this juncture but I assured the party all would be well.  I have to say, though, my promises of a gentle ascent were not totally fulfilled (I fibbed!).  After my recommendations for a parking spot for John's car yesterday and the stiff climb of today my qualifications as a mountain leader have been called into question, especially when Helen fell into a bog.  Nonetheless as we climbed higher all agreed that the views were worth it.  The sun sparkled on the surface of the island dotted lake and steamers plied between Glenridding to Pooley bridge.  The eastern fells were spread before us with the long flat ridge of Racecourse Hill with the old Roman Road leading up to High Street being prominent.  Snow still gleamed here and there on the highest fells.

Despite the forebodings of all we eventually reached the location of the 'tree' and the beginning of our descent.  I soon spotted the pine, although I was still well above it.  Scrambling quickly and precariously down, I was aware of the cloud sweeping in from the west bring rain.  Perched in position I extracted the camera and quickly took a couple of pictures only to have the battery go flat.  No problem, replace the battery.  Unfortunately that one was also flat, an elementary mistake.  I quickly got the phone out but now it had started to rain.  Oh dear.  Fortunately the shot I took with the camera did capture the tree in lovely light!!

It was time now to make our way back down a delightful path to the car.  The sun came out again and we were accompanied by the cheerful yaffle of a green woodpecker.  The small beech wood at the start of the descent was absolutely beautiful; a splendid spot for a picnic if we return in the summer.  Primroses studded the banks and ramsons or wild garlic were just coming into flower.  We also saw bright yellow kingcups or marsh marigolds, swarms of violets, wild strawberry and insectivorous butterwort.  On our return to the car we were just in time to be rewarded with pots of tea.
An excellent day.