Hosepipe ban…I don’t think so!

As the southern half of the country basks in a heatwave and a hosepipe ban is introduced in the drought hit North West, it’s off to Ambleside for us.

Skelwith Fold to be precise, which we’ve been to a few times before click here.  After a long journey due to traffic on the M6 we arrived.  Took us a while and a quick argument to find a good pitch as the first one we chose was too uneven.  Then had an early dinner inside the caravan.

A walk of about a mile and a half took us to the Drunken Duck Inn.  Sat outside under a canopy and had a few drinks...beer called Catnap or Catnip or something like that!  J wanted tea and cake, but alas we were too late.

Walked back to caravan about 9pm, just as it started to rain.  Rain was to become a feature of the weekend!  It rained all night…

Day 2

…and all morning, until we couldn’t take it any more. It was so loud, we couldn’t even hear the radio, so we set off in the direction of Grasmere, which is where we were intending to climb Fairfield.  But it was not a day to head into the hills so we carried on to Keswick, then decided to head to Buttermere, which we've not been to before because it is a bit of a trek.

After almost an hour’s drive we arrived mid afternoon.  Held up a bit by a sat nav that needed a sat nav, and a sheep jam

The weather was still pretty awful but we donned our waterproofs, gritted our teeth and set off to walk around the lake.

 

 No water shortage here!

A soggy moggy we befriended halfway round.

 Mind your head – a very low narrow tunnel

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After 2 hours and five and a half miles of easy walking, we arrived back at the Bridge Inn where we had a giant pot of tea (no cake unless you bought a main meal) We really couldn't face going back to the caravan to eat, so stayed for a delicious Lancashire hotpot, a pint then back to the van.

The sun was trying to come out after we got our showers, so we dashed to the Skelwith Bridge Hotel for a quick drink before it started up again. Then it really started to rain!!!

I’m a wet caravanner - get me out of here!

After a very disturbed night, we bolted down a cup of tea and a croissant and packed up before the heavens opened again.  As soon as we passed the ‘Welcome to Lancashire’ sign on the M6 the sun came out.  Arriving back in Liverpool, we discovered they hadn’t had a drop of rain all weekend – Hmmm.

Ah well, all good fun and beats being at home!

Coming next…a week in Gozo, followed by our main caravan trip of the year, Ravenglass for five days.

Watching the boats go by – Whitchurch

A new site for us, quite close to home.  Whitchurch is on the Shropshire / Cheshire border.  Good reviews on UK Campsite.

A bit of a scare on the way there as we encountered the dreaded low bridge sign! Was about six foot higher than the caravan but D didn’t want to take any chances! A quick diversion added about half an hour to our journey, but apart from that it was uneventful.  Stabilizer still squeaking!

On arrival we were towed on to our pitch by the owner as it was on a bit of a hill so no embarrassing display of reversing! Owners very friendly.

Very secure site, as they do caravan storage as well, but made it seem a bit like a compound!  No showers after 9.30pm and it’s the hottest weekend of the year!!!  Also, the showers cost 50p which we haven’t encountered since our camping days. After you put in the money you have 2 minutes to lock the door and get undressed.  Not good in the colder months if you have lots of layers on!  They’re timed too, so abruptly shut off after a few minutes – better rinse that soap off quick!  Was a bit of a pain making sure we had enough 50p coins.

They are very big on recycling here.  They don’t have a main rubbish bin, just a series of recycling ones.  Even food waste must be wrapped in newspaper and put in separately.  Anything else goes in a ‘burnable waste’ bin.  The low pitch fee (£14 a night) is because they don’t get charged to have massive bins of rubbish taken away.  It’s a shame other sites can’t do this as the fees for some are getting quite high.

Nice site in spite of the strict rules! Lots of ducks and rabbits about.  Threw a piece of bread to one duck, and the next thing about 10 of them came running over squawking!

 

A stroll of about 30 mins to the pub at Willeymoor Lock for the obligatory Friday afternoon drink, but it was shut!  Sat in the sun by the water for about 45 mins until it opened at 6pm

The pub is adjacent to a lock, so we watched a few boats go through.  D very impressed with the pub.  Ludlow Best a very nice beer.

D’s third pint. Don’t be fooled by the contented look on his face - he was starting to worry about getting back for his shower before the 9.30pm curfew

Day 2

A nice walk into Whitchurch along the canal tow path, but there isn’t much to do there, especially when the temperature is in the 80s.  A nice walk nonetheless. Got some treats in Tesco and had a picnic in the park under a large tree.

Wide enough for bikes – shame we left ours at home!

On the way back we sat outside a cafe at Grindley Lock with an ice cream and picked up the obligatory fridge magnet.  Here they have the famous ‘Staircase Lock’ – a series of locks very close to one another.  It’s looks quite complicated as you have to empty them in a certain order.  Was great fun watching people go in and out of them.  There is also a caravan site alongside it so will check that out for another visit, as the canal path is wide enough to ride a bike on.

Staircase Lock

Back to the pub at Willeymoor Lock in the evening for more drinks.  Had to leave at 9.30 because D was worried about being stranded in the dark on the tow path.  Passed many people sitting on their boats enjoying the evening air, felt a bit jealous so we are hoping to have a go ourselves next year!

Time to go

Left very early the next morning, not really much else to do.  A very short journey back to the storage place.

Pros

• Close to home so not a long journey
• Alongside the canal
• Only £14 per night

Cons

• No showers after 9.30pm and are charged for
• Near a busy road

Windy Windermere

A return visit to the CCC site at Windermere.  A big site, but surprisingly quiet.  Easy to get to as it’s not far from junction 36 of the M6.

A break of two weeks, just enough time to fit new friction pads to the stabiliser and for D to snap a tendon in the end of his middle finger making the bed up in the caravan.  Stabiliser still creaks and D’s finger is in a splint for 6-8 weeks!  The technical term for the finger problem is “mallet finger” and the technical term for the stabiliser problem is…”what the **** is wrong with it!”

Allocated pitch no.46, same as last time we were there.  Lucky it’s a goodun!

No problems this time.  Had a bit of a panic as the water was slow coming out of the kitchen tap.  Turned out J didn’t plug the hook up lead in far enough so it was running off the low battery.  In no time at all we were sitting down, drinking tea and feeding the local wildlife.

Then a cross country walk of about a mile and a half into Staveley for the customary Friday afternoon pint.  Just one, because we had to get back for a BBQ and England v Algeria, which D listened to on the radio as he forgot to bring the tv. Didn’t miss much by all accounts!

Whilst sitting outside enjoying the evening sun, we noticed a hot air balloon drifting past, complete with England flag attached to the basket.  That’s something we will have to do one day!

Day 2

Stony Cove Pike or Caudale Moor was the objective of today’s walk.  Starting from the pub at the top of a very windy Kirkstone Pass and about five miles.  Quite a steep climb into the wind, followed by an equally steep descent into Troutbeck valley, followed by an even steeper “off path” climb out of the valley.  Going off path never ends well but at least we didn’t get lost this time, just an unpleasant, slog through thick undergrowth alongside a wall.  J not impressed - doesn’t like walking uphill on grass.  Oh well, another “Wainwright” bagged, which makes 26.  Only another 188 to go!!

J likes a good path!

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Afterwards, a pint of Langdale Tup in the Kirkstone Inn, followed by a carvery dinner in Bowness, overlooking Lake Windermere. Sat by the lake for a bit with ice creams.

Kirkstone Pass Inn dating back to 1496

Sat outside the caravan for while in the evening, wondering whether to go to the onsite bar for a football quiz.  As we know next to nothing about football, we decided to give it a miss! Instead, a walk into nearby fields to sit on a rock and watch the sun go down, surrounded by sheep...baa!  Very peaceful.  Saw a fox running across the field. 

Have you ever heard a sheep cough?  It sounds exactly like a human!

Back in the caravan, a real find for J…’Absolute 80’s’ radio station!

Windermere CCC site

Pros

• Excellent toilets and showers
• Big site, but very quiet
• Easy to get to

Cons

• A bit on the edge of things
• Main shower block gets cleaned around 11pm, which is our preferred showering time!

Coming soon…watching the boats go by…a canal side site in Cheshire!