19 Nov 2017

Windermere

17th to 19th November 2017

The Windermere C&CC site was our destination this weekend.  Our third trip in as many weeks, which is quite unusual for this time of year.  We have been lucky with the weather recently, and while this weekend was no exception, it wasn't quite as good as recent weeks.

Friday

A traditional Friday start for a change, on arrival there were plenty of pitches to choose from and we got one on a part of the site we like.


Nowadays we only seem to come to this site for Hawkshead brewery beer festivals, and so it was this weekend.


We saw it advertised when we were in Hawkshead last weekend.

After setting everything up we headed across the fields to Staveley just as it was starting to get dark. Nice views on the way, and we checked our geocache was ok.



Not quite as many beers as usual, or so it seemed, but a great atmosphere as usual. We spent most of the night sitting with another couple from the site and even walked back with them around 10pm.  A really good night.

Saturday

D has been wanting to go to Kentmere for a long time but there are only a few parking spaces by the village church, so we know an early start was required.  We managed to leave the site around 8.30 but that was far too late, so we had to abandon the planned walk.

On the way back we thought it might be nice to have a walk along a beach, so we headed to Arnside.  Pretty cold and windy to start, but it improved as the day progressed.  Nice views of the estuary and Grange-over-Sands.



In the afternoon we popped back to the beer festival but it was much busier than the previous day, so we didn't stay long.  We were back in the caravan by 7pm and had a quiet night in listening to the radio.

Next beer festival 23-24 March 2018...we'll be back.

Sunday

A very frosty morning, we had to scrape the car, and then a warning light about low tyre pressures made the journey home more stressful than usual!

Coming soon...

A fourth trip in November?  D has some holiday to use up so maybe a mid week trip, it depends on the weather.

13 Nov 2017

Hawkshead

11th to 13th November 2017

Hot on the heels of our trip to Coniston comes a trip to Hawkshead, just the other side of Coniston water.  A tale of two villages.

The Croft, Hawkshead.  It's getting to be a bit of a tradition to come here at this time of year.

Saturday

Another Saturday start, but we needn't have worried about finding a good pitch, there were lots to choose from when we arrived.  We didn't choose a particularly good one, but for us this site isn't about sitting outside the caravan, it's about how close to the village it is on a cold autumn night.


After setting everything up we popped into the village and had a look around the shops and one drink.  Just one drink, because the plan was to drive to picturesque Tarn Hows before it got dark, which is exactly what we did.





Later we had dinner in the Kings Arms, having booked a table earlier.  Afterwards we had a drink in the Red Lion, which we have liked on previous visits, but this time it was spoiled by some regulars and the barman watching boxing (we thing, from the sound of it) on a mobile phone. We finished our drinks as quickly as we could and boycotted the pub for the rest of this trip.  The Kings Arms is much nicer, anyway.

Sunday

A lovely sunny day, but cold, and it seemed more so because it was quite windy too.  We drove to nearby Grizedale forest for a walk, mostly on easy forest paths, to Carron Crag.



Good views from the top, but the walk was mostly amongst trees.





There are lots of sculptures in the forest, here are a couple...



In the afternoon we had a stroll around the village and a couple of drinks in the Kings Arms, which has a really nice table in the corner of the room.  We could have stayed all night, but didn't.



Instead we retreated to the caravan when it got dark, for dinner and a rest, then back to the Kings Arms for more drinks.  We had to make do with a different, not so good, table.  The couple who had "our" table wouldn't budge, despite us willing them to.  The man had four pints while we were there!  D only had two.

Monday

D got up early, just in time to catch a great sunrise.


Then it was homeward bound,delayed a bit by an accident on the M6.

Coniston v Hawkshead

The C&MC site near Coniston is much nicer than the Croft, but it is a long walk into the village.  Coniston has better pubs, overall, although the Kings Arms was great on this occasion.  Hawkshead is a picture postcard village that you can stroll around, whereas Coniston is really just a road, and quite a busy one during the day.  So many things to consider, we can't decide!

Coming soon...

As we drove past Staveley we noticed signs for the Hawkshead Brewery 15th Birthday Beer Fest, which is next week, so plans of going to Castleton or York were quickly shelved.  Both sites are permanently full anyway!



6 Nov 2017

Coniston

4th to 6th November 2017

Our third visit of the year to the Coniston Caravan and Motorhome Club site.  We went off this site for a bit a year or so ago (not sure why), but it is definitely one of our favorites again.

Saturday

A Saturday start.  With over 100 pitches free according to late availability we thought we would have no trouble finding a decent pitch.  On arrival, though, we discovered that most of the site was closed for the winter and only the top bit was open.  Uh oh!

Luckily one of our favorite pitches was free.


Pitch no. 64.  In a clearing, on its own, not too far from the toilets...perfect.

The usual plan would be to head into Coniston, but not today.  First we drove to Hawkshead for a very enjoyable bonfire and firework display, despite the showery weather.  No pics, we left the camera in the car.

Then we drove into Ambleside, for dinner and Zefirellis, where a really good jazz quartet were playing.  Just one drink all night...it is possible to have a good time without drinking!

Sunday

Fabulous weather for November, blue skies all day.  We went for a walk from the site to Torver Back Common.


About 6 miles and not too strenuous, perfect for a gentle autumn stroll.  Great views of Coniston water and the surrounding hills, and a couple of tarns.




Sheep being herded near Kelly Hall tarn...we had to wait for them to pass



In the afternoon we walked into Coniston just as it was getting dark, and witnessed another display of shepherding on the way.


We had dinner in the Yewdale Inn, which is our favorite pub in the village at the moment.  The Black Bull was good, too, but we weren't so keen on the Sun hotel this time.  It was full of locals...how dare they!

Monday

It's nice to leave just as the weather is on the turn, isn't it!  A very uneventful journey home.

Coming soon...

We are hoping to go to Hawkshead soon, so we will find out who wins...Coniston v Hawkshead?