The Wedding of The Year

In between parent duties and coming home (both geographically and chronologically) we had the honour of attending Cousin Simon's wedding in Nottingham.

The Happy Couple. Simon and Nancy. It's a bit of a whirlwind romance, they've only been together for 17 years!

L to R - Mum, Aunty Mary and Aunty Sylvia. Little Sis, Big Sis and Honorary Sis

Simon, Nancy and Sam arrive at the reception

The band entertain while Cousin Derek is the official photographer

Simon gives his speech to a captivated audience

Nancy and her Dad

Soggy Cumbria Way

We had planed to have a few hours on the fells today. Without wanting to think too hard about where to go, we thought we would do a spot of exploring again, but when we parked up at our usual spot in Mosedale, the cloud was down and it looked like it was planning to stay down. The prospect of thrashing through wet bracken didn't seem such a bright idea! So instead, we meandered along the Cumbria Way, a very frequent dog walking route for us, but as I had my camera with me I thought I may as well use it!

Naddle Horseshoe

Another chance to grab a walk in between visits south. Again we head to the eastern fringes of the Lakes to avoid the silly season crowds

We parked at Hazel Shaw and set out across Rosgill Moor

and walked across Harper Hills. Breeze ran all over them!

The, onto Powley's Hill and on to Hare Shaw in time for a bite to eat

and a power nap! The observant of you will notice Breeze is wearing a boot. Another case of wearing her feet out. She managed to do that in about twenty minutes at the Burton Dasset Hills last week.

That tongue again!

That's better.

Refuelled and rested, we head in the general direction of Haweswater 

To pick up the return path across Naddle Forest

The Heather is beginning to bloom

Haweswater as we reach Hugh Laithes Pike

The Cairn on Hugh Laithes Pike

From here we deviated from the normal Naddle Horsheshoe and took a route back through Naddle Farm and along the Haweswater service road through Frith Wood.
About 8.5 miles by the time we reached the car and the forecasted rain had arrived, pretty near perfect timing!

Burton Dassett Hills

On a visit 'down south', Breeze is in need of a fell fix. Not quite the fells, but good enough for a quick sprint, we head to the Burton Dassetts. Mum is currently in a wheelchair so can't really join us, but it's a beautiful day so she's happy to sit and enjoy the view while Breeze has a charge around.

True to form, we were only there about 20 minutes and as you can see it is mainly grass, but Breeze managed to wear a hole in her pad again. Must have been the heat and the ironstone carpark.

Cawdale and Bampton Fell

An afternoon walk on a Friday in the silly season? We tried to pick one we knew would be quiet. Leaving the car on the wide verge just before Moorahills Farm (seen ahead), someone is pleased to be out!

Carhullan holiday accomodation 

Heading into Cawdale

A lovely, lonely valley

At the head of the valley are the remains of Cawdale quarry. This was one of the reasons for coming this way today, to have a good explore

An adit attracts our attention

I don't fancy going in there, but you can just make out about 20 - 30 yards once your eyes have adjusted to the dark (or with the help of the flash!)

Looking down as we make our way up Sealhole Grain

and come to more derelict buildings

and another mine shaft

Having finished our exploration for now, we head up above the mines and onto the featureless summit of Low Cop before heading onto Bampton Fell

Then we make our way down to the mis named Drybarrows

Then having followed the intake wall, we come across this lovely little slab bridge

Closely followed by this Packhorse bridge

at Stanegar, just below the car.

We only walked 6 miles, but there was so much to see and this is such an interesting area, we could easily have taken all day over it. Despite the forecasted showers, the weather was ideal and we didn't see a single soul (unless you count sheep)

Around Melbreak

Our friend Joan has suggested a walk over at Loweswater followed by supper in the Kirkstile. She thought it would be a relaxing diversion for us!

This is old ground for us. We used to holiday in Joan's cottages twice a year. For Breeze it is a little less familiar though, she's probably only walked here a few times. We set off up through Kirkgate farm and up towards the firebreak

That's Melbreak on the left ahead of us, but we're not going up there today. Wattie (Joan's dog) has got quite a few miles under his belt, and needs to take things a bit easier these days. Anyway, we are supposed to be having a relaxing afternoon, so a nice low level saunter is ideal for all of us. Wattie takes his time to get warmed up, there are lots of smells that need his attention at the start.

Breeze needs no encouragement. We made our way up Mosedale, as wet as ever but that didn't slow her down.

Buttermere comes into view as we head towards Scale Force, the turning point on our walk

Scale Force from the bridge

Wait for Me Wattie!

Heading for Crummock Water. That's Grasmoor behind

Locals

As we reach Low Ling Crag, Breeze gives in to temptation and has a swim. Fleetwith Pike  in the centre

and again with Rannerdale Knotts behind her

We stop for a drink and some of Joans lovely Fruit Scones. We can see her house from her! The white house below Low Fell. I

One minute she's like this..........

The next minute she's like this!

Heading for home. Wattie, Joan and Husband as we leave Low Ling Crag (the little bit that juts out behind them)

She might have looked tired in that picture, but she still has plenty of beans

Back at Joan's for a cuppa and a quick change before we head down to the Kirkstile for supper

A really lovely afternoon and evening. We walked about 7 miles, had a really good catch up with Joan and super food at the Kirkstile. Just what the doctor ordered!