Visiting Pip

We made a trip North to stay with Pip for a few days in Northumberland. It's about 20 years since Pip and I spent any time together - with the exception of one Christening about 12 years ago, which was the only time she and Husband had met.

We arrived on Thursday afternoon and while Pip was at work, the three of us headed over to Beadnell, where Pip grew up.

Breeze didn't know which way to turn when she ran out onto Beadnell Bay

So in true Breeze fashion she spent the first 30 seconds spinning round in circles

And then she ran

and ran

and ran

and ran. It really is the perfect spot for a wild spaniel. Miles and mile of beautiful sand. Such a lovely spot. It is many, many years since I was last here and I had forgotten just how lovely it is.

 On Friday morning while Pip was working, we fulfilled a long held wish to go and visit the Chillingham Wild Cattle. It really was worthwhile too.

On Friday afternoon we headed back to the coast, this time with Pip and her two dogs, Guinness and Dipper. Sadly the weather decided that taking photo's wasn't really appropriate but suffice to say there were three very tired dogs at the end of the day.

Dipper. She had fallen in love with Husband

On Saturday morning, we headed into the Northumberland National Park, just up the road from Pips house. Again the weather wasn't really playing ball so no pictures, but a short clip of Dipper chasing Breeze can be seen on Pip's Facebook page if this link works ..... Dipper in Full Cry

We had a fab time. A really beautiful part of the world in brilliant company. Like minded people and like minded dogs.

Wildlife - Weasel

We had a new visitor in the garden this morning. Sat drinking a cuppa before heading down the M6 for another trip down to Mum and Dad, a weasel suddenly appeared.

Having spent about 5 or 10 minutes in and out of the wall round the pond, suddenly it appeared with a (dead) bank vole! This was carried back across the garden, to the back of the shed where we think they are nesting. We can only assume that there is a family to feed as it then came back another 5 times (while we were still at home anyway) and collected what must have been the rest of the bank vole family. Our assumption is that he/she had gone into the wall and found the bank voles nest, killed them all and then carried them one by one back home for their own small family.

Just look how small the weasel is. The Bank Vole is barely bigger than a woodmouse.

With a baby Bank Vole!

Bowscale Fell and Bowscale Tarn from Mungrisdale

What a stonker of a day. I was riding out first thing, and there is no better way to start the morning. When I got back we decided to forget all the jobs that are piling up at home and get out for a walk. So off we went, a few miles over the hill from home and we parked at Mungrisdale

We use this track as a short walk quite often, but today it would give us a quiet way up onto Bowscale Fell

The track gradually becomes a path, before it splits into sheep tracks

A late start meant lunch before the climbing was over. It was so warm sitting in the sheepfold  by Bullfell beck we could have stayed here all afternoon

Restaurant with a view

Off up the sheep track we go. It's pretty steep here

But worth the effort ( excuse the glare!)

We came across a couple of Ermine holes on the way up

Blencathra appears as we gain height

Having scaled the dizzy heights of Bowscale we now head over to walk down to the tarn. it shirt sleeves weather even up here

We're heading down the bit on the right there.......

........to Bowscale tarn seen over Breeze

A bit cooler here but a really rare treat, Bowscale Tarn in sunshine. Time for a swim (Breeze NOT me. Not ever, Never, Not even on the hottest day of the year)

Love the way her tail makes a fountain

Carrock Fell as we head down towards Bowscale 

An amazing afternoon. about 6 miles, wall to wall sunshine and hardly anyone else in sight. Bliss!

Calfhow Pike, Great Dodd and Randerside on a perfect day

To say that today was awesome doesn't do it justice. We had planned to go down to Glenridding and do Sheffield Pike, but the Dodds were calling so we changed our minds at the last minute. As we left the car at High Row, a group of about 7 were just ahead of us. They headed up the path we had decided on so we changed our minds again! Call us antisocial, but we don't want to be two steps behind the Northern dawdlers day trip

We headed out along the Coach road to Mariel Bridge and then made our way up the side of Rowantree Beck. It was easy going for the first couple of miles, but once past the sheepfold the snow got deep and we were finding our own path much of the time. Knee deep drifts make for hard climbing!

I took so many photos today, I have had to cut them to the bare minimum or I would be uploading them for weeks, so few shots of the route, lots of shots of views (and Breeze of course).As we reach to col, the Western fells fill the skyline

Zooming in on Great Gable

Breeze's feet are full of snowballs, every now and then she'll come over for me to melt them for her - great way of cooling your hands down!

Lunchtime view

Lunchtime siesta

Refueled, rested and ready to go!

Nearly back at the car. What an amazing day

A bit over 8 miles, but by heck did it feel hard work today! We're not fell fit and the snow was really tiring in places. But it was so definitely worth the effort. And to top it all, once we left the car park we didn't see another soul all day!

Wildlife

Lots of regulars in the garden and at this time of year there is one which really catches your eye. I couldn't resist the opportunity to get both male (top) and female lesser redpoll. The male is always colourful, but during the breeding season he really stands out.

A somewhat less welcome, but just as frequent visitor is one of the Sparrowhawks who use our patch as a bistro. Both male and female are regulars but rarely do we get the opportunity for such amazing pictures. Here she is having just bagged herself a starling (which was still alive as I took these pictures)