Monday, 10 June 2013

The Lakes 10th June 2013

A late start to the day and a short walk round Staveley follow by lunch at Wilfs in Staveley Mill.

The walk along river the started at Staveley Mill with a wonderful modern Wrought Iron Bridge depicting the wood shavings thrown of the work when the Wood-turning mill was functioning.

This  pleasant stroll revealed a number of bid species some of which we managed to take photos of
Dipper

Grey Heron

Female Goosander

Mallard with ducklings
In addition to those pictured above we saw Pied & Grey Wagtail; Ouster Catcher; Swallow; House Martin; Swift{at very close quarters}; Pied Flycatcher; Robin; Blackbird; Wood Pigeon; Jackdaw; Crow; Magpie; House Sparrow; Song Thrush; Wren;

Lunch was eaten on the patio built over the original mill race at Staveley Wood Turning Mill and after that it would have been sinful not to have visited Hawkshead Brewery next door. A new modern extension to the old mill buildings now houses the Brewery with its own bar serving a number of Ales and one Larger and what looked like some very nice food. We will have to go back to try it.






I thought I'd add a photo of the bar tariff for all those in the South East of England who don't know how much beer should cost!


As we left the brewery my eye was caught by a Buzzard circling above, as we looked Chris said here comes its mate. How wrong he was the seconded bird swept in and did all it could to chase the first bird away we watched this aerial battle for a few minutes until they where too far away to see properly these photos do not do the aerobatics justice.






Sunday, 9 June 2013

The Lake District 9/06/2013

Visiting the Lakes again so here are some photos of our first walk today
Greylag geese and nice reflection in the fishing lake

Clouds reflected in School Knott Tarn

Interesting shaped leaf on an ivy
Interesting gate post on top of  Brant Fell

So why is it there???

Chocolate baa on Brant Fell
Well I thought it was funny

Brant Fell

a very impressive set of horns

And now some flowers just to brighten up your day
Holly

a photo of flowers of gorse

Wild Garlic









Saturday, 27 October 2012

Keswich and its surrounds

Here's a few photos from around Keswick
The first snow of the winter on Skiddaw

This bridge was , in 1999, voted best concrete structure
of the century!



Old railway bridge 









Unusual sculpture for Keswick

Pottery Giraffe!

Sun through autumn leaves

View along the old railway track last used as a railway 1972


The sun peaking over the crags at Butttermere

Buttermere

View across Keswick


















Had to have a fungi

Friday, 26 October 2012

Today we visited Kirkby Stephen and walked the 1¼ miles of railway track-bed between Stenkrith and Hartley which contains the  Podgill & Merrygill viaducts nice walk along a basically level grade withe information boards and poetry carved in to stones along the route.

View from Podgill Viaduct

Merrygill Viaduct


 Dropping down from the old railway line we walked cross country to the River Eden and back to the car park

Sunshine three the beech trees
 
Looking up to the Millennium Bridge at Stenkrith

Looking down from the Millennium Bridge at Stenkrith


Looking down from the Millennium Bridge at Stenkrith
I love the swirls caused by the water
We drove to the Black Swan at Ravenstonedale for lunch, which I can recommend, then we visited Pendragon Castle





its only a Hawthorn but I liked the shape


Asher hunting for moles at Pendragon Castle

 So there had to be some Fungi