Alfred Wainwright........

Alfred Wainwright..........Lakeland Colossus.

      Just thinking about AW the other day, made me recall that I've met him upon three occasions and always on the fells.  The first time in the early sixties, I was with my father on the lower slopes of Wansfell, not many people about in those days. My father got talking to him, they were both Lancastrians, AW gave me a bag of Lemon Drops.
      Some years later, I met him at Dow Crag, on the Coniston range, he didn't recognize me, though I knew him and made a reference to the Lemon Drops and the years just rolled away, we must have chatted for a good ten minutes.
      I've heard it said that AW was a man who liked his solitude and would happily avoid other walkers, something which I never saw in his character.
      Our final meeting came at a not too distant past, upon a fell side near Grasmere, at a point where there is a natural break in the hillside. It was a warm and sunny evening, close to the end of a late summer heat wave, there was a haze over the land in the bottom of the valley. Of course there was some talk of Lemon Drops, as we sat together.
      "You know," he said, "this is probably my favourite place in the world, you can see everything that's going on down there and you only want to be up here." 

A Series of Short Walks ll

Ah yes, an old favourite, a circular walk with variations.

       This one was on a sunny day, now there's a funny thing. A different companion, my regular walking friend and his excitable Labrador. We were able to park on the Under Loughrigg road, just north of Rothay Bridge, after Gilbert Scar, it's free parking, so get here early. We headed off at a gentle, just getting started, early morning pace, up to that famous bridge, known as; Pelter. Up the steep hill upon which Rydal, stands and past Rydal Mount, to the start of the Coffin Trail.
      Whenever I do this walk, I would usually come by way of Rydal Park, much easier, a track through open fields, the grounds of Rydal Hall and suddenly you find yourself almost at Rydal Mount, without noticing the hill.
      Now along the Coffin Trail, it's a wonderful name. I would doubt that there's ever been a coffin down it, at any point in history, more likely a quarry track. Still it's good walking over much trodden ground. There is of course "The Money Tree" a good view of  "The Nab" and Rydal Water, the back of White Moss Common and down into Grasmere, past Dove Cottage.

      It's a short walk into Grasmere and we always like to stop and find somewhere for a cup of coffee and a piece of cake and just about everywhere is Dog Friendly, if you ask nicely. Of course you can always sit upon the green, eat your sandwiches and drink from a flask, though I always like to frequent the cafes and enjoy the traveller's fayre.

      I've always liked Grasmere and often think it would be nice to live here, there is a good selection of properties, though at the higher end of the market.

      We now make the trek from Grasmere up to Red Bank, there are various off shoots along the way, though I always prefer the route up by Nicholas Wood. Really an easy way of bypassing a very steep hill. At the top we cut through to Loughrigg Terrace and it's a good route to follow back to Rydal and Ambleside. Although I always prefer the climb to Loughrigg Fell, just to catch the view of everything that means so much to me. Of course you've still got the march, down to Brow Head Farm, to recover the car. All in all a good ten miles. 

   

Cafe Tref

      Whenever I need a coffee, a mug of chocolate or even a double shot latte, I head to Café Tref.  No drinks in paper cups for me. I like my coffee good and strong, when I'm talking about War, Pestilence, The Black Market and Cuckoo Clocks.

A Seris of Short Walks

      This is not a trial of endurance, nor an odyssey of discomfort.

Through every season, I set myself against nature, or an easy course of low level hikes in preparation for days upon the fells.

      For my first excursion, Ambleside to Windermere, may be considered energetic by some, is really a pleasant walk, upon a dry and sunny day. Although, when I set out with a companion, the rain was just beginning to fall. We headed to Low Fold, as a starting point, then up the lane, into Skelghyll Woods and Jenkin's Crag, which offers a reasonable view of Windermere Lake and down to Bowness Bay and beyond.

      We continued upon the track, which is probably the old Roman Road, round to Troutbeck Village, down to the river and over the bridge, then up onto the lower slopes of Orrest Head, finally dropping down to Windermere.

      At the end of which, I was soaked to the skin, it had rained heavily all the way, at one point I had to wade, knee deep, through a trough of cold muddy water, no doubt left by a vengeful farmer.

      The rains promptly stopped as we arrived in Windermere.