Barnett Vicarious Adventures: July 10, 2013

The Lake District is an Ecological Fantasyland. Lakes, mountains, nature, wildlife, forests and streams.

We stop at the Castleriff Stone Circles. This complex of stones, in the line from Orkney to Callinish to Stonehenge, is actually set and organized into a ring. Unlike the tall Callinish stones and Stonehenge stones, these are basically unformed by any mason. They were simply set in place in a circle with an unusual indentation as you can see in the relief map below.

Above, Elaine taking the place of a goddess which she felt should have been in the empty spot.

We decide to take a hike into one of the National Trust Forests in the Lake District.

Below, a “money tree!” Coins have been pounded into this log for luck.

Our driver/guide, Ewen, demonstrates how to pound the coin into the log without smashing your finger or thumb.

A very nice waterfall and some additional views of this nice forest.

Above, the mysterious “Monkey Puzzle” tree. This tree actually comes from the southern hemisphere and it is thought that there are a few ruminants in England from the millions of years ago when the island was actually in the southern hemisphere before the shifting earth sent it to its present location.

Below, Ullswater, a “lake” in the District.

We start up a high mountain pass over the Cumbrian Mountains separating the two portions of the Lake District.

At the top of the pass, Elaine points our direction(s) of travel.

Below, the land in the valleys is very productive. It gets a lot of rain and lots of nice new topsoil coming off the mountains.

We arrive at Bowness-on-Windermere. Windermere is the most famous of the lakes in the district and Bowness is a much nicer than the overcrowded town of Windermere. When you arrive by train in the town of Windermere you are disappointed to find that the lake is actually two miles away. Better to stay in Bowness.

No, that is not luggage, it is three large dogs. How would you like to walk, feed and clean up after them?

Peter Rabbit shops are all around the shopping areas.

We stopped at a nice hillside pub for lunch.

Elaine got a “Collie Wobbler” and I got a “Dog’th Vader,” two local brews and we all had Shepherds Pie for lunch. Actually, it was beef pie. Shepherds pie must be made with lamb to be properly called Shepherds pie. For those of you who have not tried it (sometimes available on menus in the US) it is beef stew covered with mashed potatoes that are then put under the broiler. Delicious and filling.

Windermere and the small harbor at Bowness.

Next stop, Hawkshead the home of Beatrix Potter, the author of the Peter Rabbit, series

The gardens of Beatrix Potter’s home. Note the shops with Peter Rabbit and Jimina Duck, another character of Beatrix Potter.

Old fashion water pump at the home.

Above, of course there are bunnies at Ms. Potter’s house.

Now below is a very interesting stop. It is known as Wray Castle, but it was built in the 19th century. It seems that a very wealthy shipping fleet owner who wanted the “grandest” home in the Lake District. He hired an architect and gave him a free hand without consulting his wife. The result was this grand home built to look like an old English castle. Upon seeing it, the owner’s wife was appalled and refused to live in it. The architect committed suicide. The “home” was never occupied. For a short period of time it was used as a hotel but it is so far from the nearest lake that the hotel was not successful. It has now been taken over by the National Trust. I would have lived in it just for the fun of it.

We arrive at “Dove Cottage,” the home of William Wordsworth one of English literatures most famous poets. He lived in and loved the Lake District and wrote many poems that basically advocated getting out of those overcrowded cities loaded with coal dust breath in the fresh air and take refreshing hikes and nature walks. Being one of the few remaining lovers of old English poetry, I loved this stop.