Private Tour of English Lake District

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 This afternoon, I am reprising a day tour of the English Lake District in NW England.

The weather progressively improved from dull and wet to dry with sunshine. Our tour itinerary went as follows:

  • Departed our Ambleside base and then to the nearby quaint and picturesque village of Troutbeck.
  • The directly north to another village also named Troutbeck via the Kirkstone Pass and Ullswater (lake), stopping for some pictures of a small herd of Highland Cows.
  • Next, west a short distance to Castlerigg Prehistoric Stone Circle, near Keswick. This dates from around 3200 BC and ranks as one of the oldest extant circles in the British Isles.

  • Next, we by-passed Keswick and embarked on an anti-clockwise loop passing through the Derwent Fells, Buttermere (village and lake), Buttermere Fell to Rosthwaite. This particular section featured very narrow mountain roads which were heavily populated by cyclists, perhaps up to 100.On the way back to Keswick we visited the Ashness Bridge, a superb scenic location.

  • Next, we moved to Keswick but parking proved impossible so we moved on, south, towards Ambleside, stopping for lunch at a roadside pub.
  • Next, we continued south passing Thirlmere (lake) and through Grasmere, a picturesque village with Wordsworth (poet) connections.
  • On reaching Ambleside we went west to visit a waterfall known as Dungeon Ghyll Force and then returned via a narrow mountain road where passing even a cyclist proved a challenge.
  • We finally returned to our Ambleside lodgings about 4.30pm.
  • Tomorrow we visit the Peak District via West Yorkshire.

NB: Place names featuring words such as 'beck', 'thwaite' and 'wick' all point to the latter half of the first millennium when the region experienced heavy migration from Norway. Even today, the local dialect retains strong Scandinavian influences.

Video clip of Ashness Bridge


Video clip of Castlerigg Stone Circle


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 Old barn at Troutbeck.

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