Pandemic Peregrinations: Hawes Bridge, Prizet, Cumbria, Spring
Today it hit 21°C in Kendal. This is where it starts to get sort of uncomfortable for me and Lisabet.
Today it hit 21°C in Kendal. This is where it starts to get sort of uncomfortable for me and Lisabet.
We’re both very much into cool and blustery conditions (by the sea in Lisabet’s case, in the mountains for me). Nevertheless, today we took our Government Permitted Outdoor Exercise to Hawes Bridge, our new local favourite. The gorge is now looking extremely lush, especially when you compare it to the first time we visited the area, less than 2 months ago.
The lane through Scroggs Wood, filled with wild garlic, bluebells, and all sorts of other flora. Oh, and midges. Never forget the midges.
Today was very much about big fluffy clouds, it seems.
The point where the River Kent drastically narrows, essentially turning on its side and cutting out this deep limestone gorge.
Pandemic Peregrinations: Stainbank Green, Kendal, Cumbria, Spring
Happy 75th Anniversary of VE Day, that is, “Victory In Europe” Day, when the Allies triumphed over the fascist Nazis.
Happy 75th Anniversary of VE Day, that is, “Victory In Europe” Day, when the Allies triumphed over the fascist Nazis. Never forget the sacrifice of those who fought to retain our freedoms and liberties over authoritarian fascists.
It’s a weird time to celebrate VE Day. The UK is still on Lockdown, and so people are still largely staying in their homes, except for Once Per Day Exercise and shopping for essential supplies. So celebrations, if any, are somewhat subdued.
Nevertheless, on our Government Permitted Outdoor Exercise session today, we did spot a few Union Jack flags around and a little bit of bunting.
We took the Brigsteer Road out west of Kendal today, rounded up and through Stainbank Green, and back through Kendal town, stopping briefly for a Socially Distanced takeaway flat white.
In other news
As of 9am on 8th May, 211,364 people in the UK have tested positive for COVID-19 from the Coronavirus. As of 5pm on 7th May, of those tested positive for coronavirus in the UK, 31,241 have sadly died, the highest number of deaths in Europe, and a death rate of 14.78%.
May all those suffering find peace.
And I hope these photos help you to, too.
No British celebration is complete without bunting.
Superb gardening skills going on here.
Kendal has some gorgeous houses.
This is honeysuckle, or Lonicera periclymenum.
A sort of “portal” found in the wooded lanes of Stainbank Green.
Over the stile and out to Stainbank Green.
Google reckons this is Melastoma malabathricum, otherwise known as “Indian rhododendron”.
And Google thinks this is Solanum trilobatum, a herb usually cooked in the Indian subcontinent.
Nether Bridge in Kendal, probably Kendal’s prettiest bridge. Dates from the 17th century.
The view from Nether Bridge is pretty lovely too.
The current parched condition of the River Kent allows wonderful reflections.
The way to a decent flat white.
I can’t remember the last time I had a flat white…
Stramongate Bridge and its weir. Can never resist a shot of this view.
The meadows off the River Kent’s east bank near Mintsfeet has exploded in wild flowers.
A lovely horse enjoying the shade. I mean, it might have been. It was hard to tell, because the horse barely moved and almost seemed catatonic. It accepted nose stroking from Lisabet and I but eventually flinched from me, which alarmed me. So we left it alone and went back the way we came. I hope it’s OK.
My lovely Lisabet enjoying the wild flowers along the river bank.
Pandemic Peregrinations: Helsfell Nab, Kendal, Cumbria, Spring
Today’s Government Permitted Outdoor Exercise was somewhat shorter, but no less enjoyable.
Today’s Government Permitted Outdoor Exercise was somewhat shorter, but no less enjoyable.
One of our favourite local hikes we’ve enjoyed since the UK Coronavirus Lockdown has been a circuit up to Helsfell Nab and back, with Serpentine Woods along the way. With the woods looking more lush everyday, and the scenery growing vibrant and brighter, this simple hike really does make you feel very grateful.
A particular highlight, for me, was the abundance of wild garlic everywhere in Serpentine Woods. Most of it is blooming now and their little white flowers are carpeting the woodland floor.
Also, sheep. Plenty of sheep.
All photos taken with my Fujifilm X-T2 using a 16–50mm f/3.5–56 OIS lens. Edited in Capture One using a customised Kodak Ektar 100 film emulation.
The views open up almost immediately as you start ascending the path from Queen’s Road. I like a blue sky but it is nicer to see some fluffy clouds as well.
Lowland lambs are starting to look chunky now. The black-faced ones are Suffolk, I think. Not sure about the others.
As you start climbing up the path towards Helsfell Nab you pass these allotments. Every time we’ve been here we’ve seen a flight of pigeons circle above the allotments countless times. I wonder if they’re racing pigeons…
A North of England Mule (I think) ewe, giving me a customary stare whilst we pass up the path to the left. In the distance, the Kentmere fells.
Yep, taking another photo of a curving drystone wall. Can’t resist it, especially when the rest of the scene looks like this.
Just a wonderful Kendal upland scene with lovely light and colours.
This disused barn marks the point in the hike where you turn back on yourself and start climbing up around the shoulder of Helsfell Nab.
The same barn from above, with the Whinfell Common hills being lit up by the sun.
A vertical, and wider, version of the same scene.
Once you round the shoulder of Helsfell Nab it’s further up until you reach Kendal Fell and its golf course.
Enjoy the view.
Heading back down from Kendal Fell, with Benson Knott to the right and the Howgills in the distance.
A couple chat whilst enjoying the view near Serpentine Woods.
Into Serpentine Woods we go, wild garlic everywhere.
A ribcage of wood.
Completely carpeted in wild garlic.
Pandemic Peregrinations: Unnamed Woods, Kendal, Cumbria, Spring
After a week where the spring rain finally arrived, it was good to get out and enjoy a warmer day, with a clear atmosphere, and gorgeous light.
After a week where the spring rain finally arrived, it was good to get out and enjoy a warmer day, with a clear atmosphere, and gorgeous light.
For the day’s Government Permitted Outdoor Exercise we returned to the woods around Bird’s Park Reservoir. The last time we visited, 2–3 weeks ago, we mentally bookmarked the woods for a return visit because we could see there would be lots of bluebells. After a week of passing showers, the great weather has returned, and as hoped the woods were full of bluebells.
The rain has also cleared the atmosphere of haze, so after popping out of the woods onto Paddy’s Lane, the views back to Kendal and the Lakeland fells beyond were beautifully clear.
All photos shot with my Fujifilm X-T2 in Provia mode using a Fujinon XC 16–50mm f/3.5–5.6 OIS lens. Edited in Capture One using a customised Provia 100f film emulation.
In other news
As of 9am on 2nd May, 182,260 people in the UK have tested positive for COVID-19 from the Coronavirus. As of 5pm on 1st May, of those tested positive for coronavirus in the UK, 28,131 have sadly died, a death rate of 15.43%.
May all those suffering find peace.
It feels so good to see leaves on the trees again.
As mentioned before, pictures here is Lisabet’s photo philosophy in practice: get close.
Spotted these beauties growing in someone’s rockery. Google reckons they’re Osteospermum, or “African Daisies”.
People working on their allotments, no doubt maintaining social distancing rules.
The fields above Kendal are showing lovely displays of dandelions at the moment.
Bluebells everywhere! Bonus points: soft dappled light dancing around the woods.
Beautiful bluebells, gorgeous light, and gnarly trees. Can’t really go wrong.
This is actually a rare image, because my lovely Lisabet actually requested to be photographed! So here she is, looking beautiful as always next to my favourite in these woods.
Popping out of the woods and looking back to the slopes above Kendal and the Lakeland fells beyond.
Following the drystone wall back up to Paddy’s Lane.
These are the sort of expansive views you get from Paddy’s Lane: Kendal nesting in its valley and the craggy profile of the Lake District fells beyond.
When I find a wall of some kind that flows with the rolling landscape, I take a picture.
Benson Knott (319 m/1047 ft), catching the late afternoon light.
Looking back down Paddy’s Lane with the Kentmere and Longsleddale fells in the distance.
I had to crop the photo in pretty tight, but still happy I managed to snap this busy little bumblebee.
Heading back into Kendal, a lamb enjoys the shade under a tree.
The ruins of Kendal Castle above Netherfield Cricket Club. Not a bad spot for a game of cricket, eh?
Lovely light striking the trees around the River Kent.
Despite the rain, the River Kent is still looking really dry.
Pandemic Peregrinations: My Birthday On The Scar, Cumbria, Spring
Today is my 37th birthday.
The limestone ridges on the cliff face of Scout Scar.
Today is my 37th birthday.
Honestly, after everything I’ve been through, I’m happy to have made it to my late-30s.
Today was another, yes, glorious spring day, with temperatures pushing 20°C, barely any wind, and nary a cloud in t’sky. We took our new favourite route up to an old friend of ours: Scout Scar. After wandering around the cliff edge of the scar, we took the longer route back home, trekking along Cunswick Scar, through Boundary Bank, and down past Kendal Fell Quarry to home.
All in all, from the front door and back, about 6.5 miles or 16,000 steps.
Happy birthday to me!
“With no standing water, poor soils, and lack of nutrients, scattered trees grow stunted amongst rafts of limestone clitter…”
Life finds a way, even in the broken crags of a limestone cliff.
One or two walkers enjoy their Government Permitted Outdoor Exercise. In the distance, on the right, you can just make out The Mushroom, a shelter that sits at the summit of Scout Scar.
My lovely Lisabet, no doubt nervously watching me as I frame this composition along the edge of Scout Scar.
I love how Scout Scar just suddenly drops into the Lyth Valley, as if a giant had cut a chunk of land off.
In the distance, the Kentmere and Longsleddale Fells, otherwise known to Wainwright followers as the Far Eastern Fells.
The way back home.
Pandemic Peregrinations: Cunswick Tarn, Cumbria, Spring
One of the nice things about getting out for our Daily Government Permitted Outdoor Exercise is researching and exploring unfamiliar footpaths and tracks in and around Kendal.
Cunswick Hall. What you see has been standing since its modernisation in the 1800s, but there aspects of the property still remaining from the 1500s, including a window which is said to contain the oldest glass in Westmorland. Historically the manor belonged to the Leyburn family.
One of the nice things about getting out for our Daily Government Permitted Outdoor Exercise is researching and exploring unfamiliar footpaths and tracks in and around Kendal.
Today we explored a route Lisabet had mapped out earlier in the week. It involved taking the public footpath past Kendal Fell Quarry, up towards Cunswick Fell, and then taking the trail down its western flank into Scar Wood to find Cunswick Tarn.
From there, it was simple enough to follow the footpath past Cunswick Hall joining Gamblesmire Lane and following it back onto Underbarrow Road towards Kendal.
Another day of glorious spring weather and lovely light conditions for some prime exercise and photography.
In other news, as of 9am 18th April 2020, 114,217 people in the UK have tested positive for COVID-19 from the Coronavirus. As of 5pm on 17th April, of those hospitalised in the UK who tested positive for coronavirus, 15,464 have died, a 13.54% death rate.
May all those suffering find peace.
Emerging north of Kendal Fell Quarry into an open field with glorious views towards the Kentmere fells.
Down we go into Scar Wood below Cunswick Fell.
Limestone woods always have very interesting flora.
Cunswick Tarn! There’s not actually a path around the tarn, so you have to come off the trail and navigate through the swampy undergrowth to get to the tarn’s shore. We immediately spotted the water lilies and mentally bookmarked a return trip in summer when these will have blossomed some beautiful flowers.
Looking back into Ash Spring Woods from its exit. We could already see one or two bluebells blooming in these woods, surrounded also by wild garlic. In a week or two’s time this wood will enjoy a carpet of blue and white.
Gamblesmire Lane, an ancient lane running west to east that connects the village of Underbarrow in the Lyth Valley to Kendal.
Looking east along Gamblesmire Lane, my Lisabet striding purposefully ahead.
Badger Faced ewes have an afternoon snooze under the tree.