Michelle

Grasmere – Alcock Tarn – Brackenforest – Rydal village – Rydal Water – Grasmere (west side) – Grasmere village.

Very good for February – breezy on the top. There were several bright sunny spells although it became a bit cloudy later on.

Michelle, Ron, Sandy, George, Diane, Richard.

Bernie - in Rome

Ashley - injured

Michael - injured

Ken - injured knee

We were joined by Diane and Richard, who told us they enjoyed the walk. There was a four-geese flypast at the start. We took a steep climb up out of the village past some very nice houses. Then we had a long sweaty climb up to Alcock Tarn, where we had our sandwiches and enjoyed the glorious views of the hills, such as the Langdales and Crinkles, which looked very alpine in their snow covering. We saw a collie dog enjoying being in the water while a husky looked on. Alcock Tarn looked like an infinity pool.

It was an easy descent down to Rydal village, past a couple of small artificial tarns surrounded by larch trees. We also came to a money tree where Sandy managed to free a new 10p piece which Ron had to hammer back. We saw Wordsworth’s house in the village, before walking along the side of Rydal Water where we had our second break watching more dogs having a swim. A flock of cormorants collected on a small islet, which a flock of geese swam towards. However, the geese passed on peaceably to a larger island. Further on a large flock of geese grazed in a field, with the odd squabble.

Lots of people were out on the shores of Rydal Water and Grasmere. We walked by a couple of houses being renovated – polythene-covered scaffolding was being used to provide shelter. We saw a red squirrel crossing the road, which then went part way up a tree and had a good look at us for a few minutes before running further up the tree.

We had our final refreshment at Faeryland Café – had superb hot chocolates and pink apple milled juice. There were three swans – the mother was 29 years old and the son, just under a year old, was called Luis Suarez. We noticed an attractive old gipsy caravan outside café. Diane and Richard hung around outside a loo they thought was occupied but was in fact locked.

Wildlife/flora:

Red squirrel (see above), buzzards, heron, four geese, mallards, gosander, oyster catchers, Canada geese, cormorants, swans, crows, robin, gold crest, tree creepers, male chaffinch, wrens.

The Queen’s Head, Great Whittingham – to which we struggled through the mist for a Chinese surprise.

 George and Sandy

Michelle and Diane

Bent tree

Lunch

Alcock Tarn

Coin tree

Rydal Water

Bird Island

Grasmere