Backroads and Lakes Tour: England

This evening, I am reprising a day tour of N.W. England which mainly focused on rural landscapes and the English Lake District.

                                   Castlerigg Stone Circle

First. we departed our lodgings at Henshaw in Northumberland (near Vindolanda on Hadrian's Wall) and drove towards our first destination of Alston. This entailed narrow, single-track roads offering superb views of the local landscape. En-route we encountered:

  • Grey squirrel.
  • Pheasants  many).
  • Partridge.
  • Many sheep, including on road.
  • Cattle (on road)
  • A well-preserved prehistoric stone circle dating back about 5000 years. Unfortunately, subsequent research indicated this monument to be fake. The sharp, angular edges of the stones are a hint they have not been exposed to the vagaries of the British climate for 5000 years.

Prehistoric Stone Circle near Alston, England

Sheep obstructing road.(They are probably absorbing the heat from the road which acts as a convector heater.)

Bovine road hazard Long and Winding Road, Northumbria, England

Next, we drove west towards our destination of the English Lake District through more stunning scenery, including a photo stop at Hartside Summit (1903 feet). We also passed a small shooting party ( guns and dogs) out for game birds.

Shooting Party, Cumbria, England

View from Hartside Summit, Cumbria

Our first stop in the Lake District was Castlerigg Stone Circle, which dates from around 3000 BC and is of the oldest such monuments in Britain.

Video clip of Castlerigg Stone Circle, Keswick


Next, we drove through Ambleside to our destination of Coniston Water (lake) where we joined the 2.30 pm cruise on the historic Steam Yacht 'Gondola' which dates from 1859. This proved an enjoyable trip lasting 1 hour 45 mins in brilliant sunshine and afforded excellent views of Lakeland scenery.

Steam Yacht ready for boarding at Coniston Water

 

Marine Steam Engine powering S.Y. 'Gondola'.,

View from Steam Yacht

View from Coniston Water (lake)

Steam Yacht 'Gondola'

At conclusion of the boat tour we returned to Ambleside, via characteristic narrow, winding roads and reached our lodgings about 5.00pm.

Ambleside, Lake District, England

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