So once again, it’s time for our annual March break in The Lakes …
Monday this week was the first day of spring, and the weather duly obliged, with a forecast of dry, warm and mainly sunny for the week ahead. We remarked on Tuesday that the blossom trees are suddenly — well — blossoming; and that Roy’s magnolia looked poised to explode. So we were hopeful of a really (what’s the equivalent of “vernal” for Spring?) Spring-y Spring Break.
Day 1 (Wednesday)
Woke to a misty morning with the sun starting to break through, and left just before 9.00 with the feeling a nice day was in prospect. By the time we’d had breakfast at the Little Chef in Middlewich it was a nice sunny day, and we enjoyed an easy drive up the M6.
Coffee at the Burton-in-Kendal services, before pressing on the Windermere, and the traditional visit to the Lakeland shop. Inevitably found one or two things to buy!
Arrived in Grasmere just before 2.00 with the sun still shining, but by the time we had checked in and strolled down into the village the cloud had begun to spoil things a bit. Had a pint in The Lamb and mooched around the garden centre and other shops.
Sunshine returned late afternoon.
Enjoyed evening meal of mussels, followed by slow-cooked lamb dish whose exact description I forget (basically a lamb shank served off the bone), and lemon tart.
Day 2 (Thursday)
An even better day, weather-wise: bright sun and good temperatures dawn to dusk.
After a hearty breakfast, headed down to Ambleside and parked easily in one of the limited number of free parking slots right by the pier at Waterhead. Bought tickets for the Red Cruise to Bowness and mooched around in the pleasant early sunshine until we boarded the boat for the 10.40 sailing.
Excellent 30-minute sail down the lake in an un-crowded boat followed by a stroll up into Bowness. Coffee at Costa, sitting outside. Got back to the pier in good time for the 12.30 sailing back up the lake — just as well, as a big queue had formed by the time we boarded. Again enjoyed the sail, even though the boat was much busier.
Tasty pint of (Jennings?) Cumbria Ale at the Waterside Inn before driving back to Grasmere.
Relaxed in the hotel garden, reading, for an hour or so. Then a walk down into the village, along the riverside walk, up to the main road and so back to The Swan.
Evening meal was ok for us, though there seemed to be some minor hitches in service for others; largely due to absence of the restaurant manager, I suspect.
Day 3 (Friday)
Down to the village after packing the bags and checking out, to buy some gingerbread.
Then north to Keswick, where we wandered round and checked out Geo Fisher and a couple of other shops, in search of replacement walking shoes for me. Eventually bought a pair from Cotswold: bit on the high side, price-wise, but hopefully they will last a while! Popped into Cornerwise, of course! (Tobermoray 10 year old)
Out along the A66 towards Penrith then turned right to come down to Ullswater and up to Kirkstone Pass. Enjoyed a pint in the sun at the pub above The Struggles.
Down to Windermere and so via Kendal to Garstang. (Called in on the off chance of seeing Sylvia, but she was out for the day – Ross made us a cuppa and we chatted briefly.)
Another excellent day, weather-wise.
Mother-in-Law’s fish pie for tea.
No internet connection most of the evening — Vodafone coverage really shocking in Garstang, and neighbour’s wi-fi too weak to be useable.
All-in-all …
a most pleasant break, made so largely by the weather, of course.
Look forward to next year!
