The Lake District
David and Heather organised a fantastic week of walking during May 2010, in one of the prettiest areas in England.
We stayed at The Windermere Hydro Hotel (above) close to the lake in the pretty village of Bowness-on-Windermere.
The coach driver was brilliant, taking us from home to the hotel and back home after the holiday, and during the week available each morning to run us to the start of the walks and to take us back to the hotel each afternoon, making life very easy for us.
These images are a few from the hard walks offered.
The first day (Monday) was set fair for a long, stiff walk of 8.5 miles, taking us to the top of Far Easdale at a height of 2200 feet. Calf Crag, Gibsons Knott & Helm Crag were also climbed en-route -
some of the group en route to Far Easdale . . .
. . . and one lone walker studies the last lap of the climb to Far Easdale summit . . .
. . . and all stop for another tea break at Helm Crag.
Tuesdays long walk to High Spy was a climb to 2500 feet, going over Maiden Moor and Cat Bells -
- The group wend there way to High Spy . . .
. . . and the leaders rest during a break on the top of Cat Bells.
Wednesday was probably the toughest long walk of the week with a total ascent of 2850 feet up to Helvellyn, taking in Striding Edge and Swirral Edge. The approach to Striding Edge was straight forward -
- taking us past beautiful Red Tarn. . .
. . . but then the fun began . . .
. . . as the crossing of Striding Edge was negotiated . . .
. . until we all reached the summit of Helvellyn safely, before descending via Swirral Edge to return to Glenridding.
Click here to see a short video of the group that climbed to Helvellyn; and catch a glimpse of a little Mallard duck braving the exposed slopes.
Thursday's long walk meant climbing a total of 2940 feet to reach the top of the Old Man of Coniston -
All gathered for lunch at the summit . . .
. . . while taking in the view, looking towards Coniston village.
Friday was a day of rain and mist, so for the long walk we ascended to Red Screes instead of Fairfield -
The climb up began in Ambleside, taking us up a hilly road that had earned its name. Most of the walk, although fun, was in conditions too bad for photography . . .
. . . Except here, (This photo had to be highly enhanced in Adobe Photoshop), when a break was taken for lunch. . . .
. . . until we reached High Sweden bridge on the return.
We boarded the coach on Saturday for the homeward journey, but we stopped off at Macclesfield, Cheshire to see the giant Radio Telescope at the Jodrell Bank Science and Discovery Centre -
The awesomely huge telescope dominates the centre, with information boards dotted around the site explaining the science behind its use. . .
. . . but unfortunately the holiday had to come to an end - with a final gathering of the group in the arboretum attached to the Centre.
click on the images to see a larger picture.
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