To the Wilds of the Lake District

Our original plan had been to escape the worst of the Sunday crowds in the Lake District by spending the day on the ferries on Lake Windermere. However the day started of cool and overcast with light rain and that wasn't very encouraging for boat trips. So instead we decided to go for a drive to some of the other parts of the Lake district and stay well away from the Great North Swim. 

We set off south from our B&B until we came to Kent Estuary and Grange-over-Sands. It was pleasant little town but it seemed that they had had a problem with the estuary silting up. The water must have been at least 200 metres from the sea-wall and the land in between was covered with grass. We set off back into the Lake District, traveling up beside Coniston Water from High Nibthwaite to Coniston. Here we discovered we were on the route of a Mountain Bike race - but not for long as we took a different route out of town.

 The main road through High Nibthwaite

 Coniston Water

The A593 through Coniston

We first went north and then west over Wrynose Pass and Hardnott Pass to the western side of the Lake District National Park. Unlike the eastern side, this is wild, rugged, sparsely populated country where the roads are narrow and climb steep passes. After descending into the farming country around Eskdale, we  headed back into the wild country, traveling alongside Wast Water to Wasdale Head. Quite literally at the end of the road is the Wasdale Head Inn. It is hard to imagine how it makes money but we did our bit by having afternoon tea in Ritson's Bar.

 Looking back down Wrynose Pass - the road is on the left and a river is on the right

 Perhaps we shouldn't tell Budget about everywhere we took their little car...

It's all downhill from here - the top of Hardnott Pass

 Wast Water with shale slopes on the mountains on the far side

The Inn at the end of the road...

We retraced our steps to the main road at Gosforth and set off north so we would circle around back to Bowness. When had the chance, we went across country again on the minor roads. This time we traveled through Loweswater and Buttermere before taking another high pass to Keswick. From there we took the main road down to Ambleside and then through to Bowness. Mind you, that took forever as we got tangled up in the last of the traffic from the Great North Swim.

The last high pass for the day!

After a little rest, we went into Bowness for dinner. With the crowds gone we were more successful than last night and got a table at The Albert. We had their Sunday roast special which was very nice. After dinner we went window shopping around town.