Fare Ye Well, Bonnie Scotland

Today we were to continue south, leaving Scotland and returning to England. It was almost as if the weather-gods wanted to make sure we left as we woke to a rainy, dreary day. We had a number of sightseeing options for the drive south and, due to the weather, these were all abandoned. So after another delightful breakfast in the B&B, we packed the car and set off using the main highways and motorways for a change. 

We took the A97 from Stonehaven down past Dundee and Perth where we joined the M90 through to the A9. Passing by Stirling, the rain had eased and we were able to see Stirling Castle perched high on a hill. Deciding that we had to leave at least one castle for our next trip to Scotland, we kept on driving with the A9 now having become upgraded to the M9. We turned onto the M80 towards Glasgow which then became the A80. Nearing Glasgow and in the middle of roadworks to upgrade the A80, we missed the turn off to the M73. We nearly made it into Glasgow before we were able to pick up the M8 to take us back the M73 so we could pick up the M74 heading south. 

The rain returned as we continued south towards England. We crossed the border at Gretna where the rain stopped and the M74 changed numbers to the M6. We stayed with the M6 as far as Penrith where we turned onto the A66 to take us to the Lakes District. With our usual passion for the back roads, we took A592 down past (lake) Ullswater, over Kirkstone Pass and down into Windermere. Our destination was the Fair Rigg Guest House in Bowness-on-Windermere. Believing Windermere was a bigger town than Bowness, we stopped at the former for some afternoon tea and a look in the shops. 

 Near the top of Kirkstone Pass looking back towards Ullswater

 It seems that in England you can catch a bus...

 ...and buy a beer just about anywhere

What you go up, you have to go down - looking down on Lake Winermere

We eventually moved on to Bowness and were quite surprised to find it was bigger and busier than Windermere. Our B&B is a little way out of town and so it is not too hectic except for the traffic. What we didn't know about when we booked to come here was the Great North Swim. It attracts over 10,000 participants who go for a swim in Lake Windermere for a distance of either 0.5, 1 or 2 miles. When we went to buy dinner tonight, Bowness was hectic and the pubs were full. In the end, we opted for fish and chips which we ate overlooking the lake (in the car because it was raining again...)

 The main street in Windermere

 Our B&B in Bowness-on-Windermere