Moor gate from forest out to open moorland, gateway to the prettiest views of the Lake District. Leaving London on the early train and enjoying the cooked breakfast delivered to the table at my seat and still included in the ticket price, set me up for a lunchtime walk up Latrigg, a kiddie peak of just 368 m. altitude and prominent in the view from my room in a B&B in Keswick. Squally showers and a strong wind but fine views from Latrigg of the fresh green... due recent and abundant rainfall.
Then down south to Arnside, also Cumbria but on Morecombe Bay. Anside Knott now has bluebells and cowslips in flower, strikingly late this year. The regularity of the railway viaduct contrasts with the natural curves of the landscape and estuary. The river seems to have changed its path in the sand flats, we think due to the recent Northwesterly winds, rather than the usual southwesterlies.
Although I’ve been hiking many times in the Lake District, I am still a visitor, that some here would call an “Init”, meaning the hordes of day-trippers who get out of their coaches or cars to exclaim “Init pretty, Doris”. A derogatory term, just like “grockle” in Cornwall, especially as National Parks and areas of natural beauty like The Lake District gain much of their prosperity from us visitors.