Lake District - Day 9

Today we went for a walk with Phil up the Langdale Pikes. It started off cloudy with some snow, but cleared up later. The way up and down was very steep.

We came down by Stickle Tarn, by the time we got to the bottom it was sunny and quite warm.

We'd parked in the National Trust car park at the Old Dungeon Ghyll, so left for home straight after the walk.

The roads home were all clear, we were home just after 8pm.

Lake District - Day 8

After breakfast we went for a walk up Pike of Bliscoe. We'd intended to do Crinkle Crags too, but it was snowing heavily and we decided to leave it for another day.

We were down by 2pm, so sat in and read books. We went to the Sicklebarn pub with Phil for a drink then back to make dinner, veg sauce and pasta.

Lake District - Day 7

We were leaving the bunkhouse today so spent some time cleaning and packing up. Before the Bristol group left we did a walk leaving from the bunkhouse.

After the others left we drove to Ambleside. We walked up to waterfalls, bought supplies in Tesco and had a drink in the Queens Hotel.

We drove to the National Trust campsite in Langdale, and managed to get hookup for one night only, though we booked for a second night as well. Phil from Bristol came here in his campervan also.

We joined Phil in the Old Dungeon Ghyll pub, where we both had dinner of pork in mustard sauce - it was filling but not brilliant.

Lake District - Day 6

Today the weather still not great for going high, so we went to Grizedale Forest and did a 9 mile walk. The sun came out occasionally. There are many sculpture installations scattered through the forest.

After this we went to the Eagle's Head Inn in Satterthwaite.

Back to bunkhouse, then out for a pre-booked dinner at the Farmer's Arms pub. Unfortunately there was a power cut shortly after we got there, so dinner was off!

We went back to the bunkhouse and made an ad hoc meal with all the bits of food we had, then stayed up late with some music.

Lake District - Day 5

We all got up and were ready to go for our walk by 9.30. The weather wasn't good enough for the Fairfield Horseshoe as planned, so we went to do the Coniston walk from Friday. It was quite wet all day.

We walked from Coniston to Tarn Howes, going up beside some waterfalls on the way. After lunch we walked to the top of Tom Heights.

It rained heavier later, we went to the Black Bull pub in Coniston for a few beers.

Then back to the bunkhouse. Dinner was Mexican bean stew. We stayed in, and most of us did a pop quiz. We also jigsaw we were working on.

Lake District - Day 4

Today we were meeting up with the Bristol walking group and staying in a bunkhouse with them for the Easter weekend. We packed up and left the site and drove to Millom Tesco store for supplies. We then went on to Coniston for 12ish. We had lunch in a cafe, pork pie salad and quiche salad.

The others from Bristol were supposed to meet us there at 2pm but were all much delayed by traffic. In the end they went straight to the bunkhouse and today's walk didn't happen.

The Bunkhouse is River Deep Mountain High in Lowick Green.

Once everyone had unpacked we walked to the Red Lion pub, then back for dinner, pasta and sauce, and socialising.

Lake District - Day 3

It was wet all day today, so mostly we stayed in and read books. Later we walked along the side of Wast Water a bit.

The path to pub, which we'd taken yesterday, was now covered by a river so we had to find another way.

Then back to the campervan for dinner, couscous with tuna and tomato.

Lake District - Day 2

In the morning a friendly robin came into the van for some crumbs.

After breakfast we left for a walk about 10.30. This was up Scafell Pike by the Corridor route. it was mostly cloudy, but cleared slightly later.

We got down about 5, had showers then walked about 1 mile to the Wasdale Head Inn where they had a cosy coal fire, WiFi and good local beer.

We walked back to the van in dark, dinner spicy chicken and veg.

Lake District - Day 1

We left the house at about 9am and drove to the Lake District, stopping at Cockermouth on the way. We arrived at Wasdale Head about 1.30pm. We parked in the car park and set off on a walk. We went up Kirkfell and Great Gable - it was very steep both on the way up and the way down. The top was in cloud.

It was getting dark by the time we got back, about 6.45. We drove to Wasdale National Trust campsite where the reception was closed but they had left an envelope with our barrier pass etc.

We set up the campervan and had veg chilli for dinner.

Great Glen Trip - Day 7

We left the site and drove south to the Balinluig Motorgrill for a full breakfast.

We then visited Dunkeld and had a walk round the town and the cathedral. The weather was a bit wet.

On the way home we popped in to Strathearn Distillery to pay a visit to the cask of whisky we've bought, which is maturing nicely in their little bonded warehouse. Ours is cask 21.

We then drove home.

Great Glen Trip - Day 6

Today we walked a circuit round the base of the hills behind the campsite, coming back through the Ryvoan Pass. It was brilliantly sunny all day. We did about 18 miles in total.

Later we walked a mile to the bar at Glenmore Lodge, then back to the campervan for dinner.