The colours ranged from drab to astounding, the grey rocks meeting the firey oranges of the tufty grass.

We walked up and up... with the sight of Haweswater getting ever smaller. There was a little tarn which overflowed and spilled down the hillside in gushing streams.


I was mighty glad this man with the lime backpack wasn't five minutes closer to us as I had to make a short convenience stop behind a rock (time number 201596 I wish that the countryside had toilets! And a reminder that women are designed so badly for this occurrence).

You can see the road round Haweswater which is quite a little trek and the carpark right at the end is far smaller than demand, so arrive early or keep your fingers crossed for a space.



More from Haweswater soon, I don't want to overload this one post with pictures! You can read my second instalment now,
Sophie

The views were impossibly beautiful, I could hardly absorb just how stunning the scenery looked. We're used to Norfolk and it's quiet, unassuming charm. This is like popping up in a whole new country and marvelling at how utterly unfamiliar and exceptional the landscape looks.

The village looked so tiny by the lake, dwarfed by the mountain. It really comforts me sometimes, to feel so small.

I did not expect to be this warm at this time of year! It took me by surprise but it has to have been one of the most amazing days of my adult life. I beamed for most of the day. The sunshine is wonderful when expected but that little bit more special when it's unanticipated.


Second batch from the day to follow soon. In the event you can't wait, you could always re-live the walk to Long Meg stone circle.
Sophie 

Whilst staying in the village of Langwathby, near Penrith in Cumbria in early spring we took as much time out on our feet exploring the countryside as we could. One afternoon we ventured over the bridge and followed the path along the river Eden into Edenhall and through the village back to the start again. The walk was only a couple of miles at most so didn't take that long but was a pleasant diversion.

The tree line feels so homely, very much reminiscent of the Brecklands in Norfolk.
This house on the riverbank had a daffodil lined steps, so sweet! And a hammock at the bottom.

More evidence of the flooding, the eroded banks and debris up in the branches... Ongoing reparations and earthworks were evident.



This Estate had just had a field ploughed. There were some fabulous old high walls, I assumed the fields are usually grazed as the bushes had plenty of wool caught up on the low twigs.




We caught glimpses of snow capped mountains in the very distance.


The last leg was though this sheep field. The herd was quite lively and I got a little uneasy with them! I managed to capture one of them jumping around (they were scaring me!).

Please tell me I'm not the only one who gets frightened by galloping sheep?
Sophie

There had been devastating floods in Cumbria back in December 2015 and much of the damage was evident; banks eroded away, debris high up in branches. This is the river Eden you can see.

As we walked along the footpath which skirted the river the curious sight of Lacy's Caves appeared. We could have walked around them, C did, but I refused. I don't need to be creeped out.

The walk saw plenty of terrains and sights. Mind your step! We did have one difficult traversement where the path had eroded completely.




I had no idea what the above feature was for but it was fascinating,

Scenery! Ah, fabulous. Below, so many shoots. Are they wild garlic? I really don't know.

The stone circle itself was much bigger than I expected. Not a hope of fitting it all into one picture! We think that this solitary tall stone is Long Meg and the circle are her daughters. It's the kind of place I would enjoy spending a while to explore as well as just sitting down quietly to have a think.

You can just about make out the snowcapped mountains in the background. So picturesque and different from flat Norfolk.


Have you been to a stone circle?
Sophie