Baslow Edge and Birchen Edge

So, yesterday saw us drive over to the village of Curbar in the Peak District - about an hour away from home. After a cloudy start it turned out to be a beautiful cold, crisp day.

We set off walking along the top of Baslow Edge

The rock formation below is known as Eagle Stone

Bar Brook

The woodlands below Gardom's Edge

Spot my hubby! Miles ahead as usual 😄

This was where we stopped for lunch at Gardom's Edge. What a view!

This rock formation is known as Three Men

And this is known as The Three Ships. They have been designated HMS Victory, HMS Defiance and HMS Royal Soverin and each one has the name inscribed into the rock.

 In between leaving the monument above at Birchen Edge and reaching the one below at Eaglestone Flat we had to cross an incredibly wet field. Of course, me being me, I fell flat on my face. No harm done though.

 This is Wellington's monument

Views looking back at Gardom's Edge and Birchen Edge

And this is Curbar Edge. This should have been our final part of the walk but my back was aching by this point and I didn't think I could manage it so we'll save it for another day.

There were some beautiful looking cows up on Baslow Edge

And finally, it's not been a great walk in the UK if your shoes and trousers don't look like this 😃

Ambleside

Last Thursday, late evening, Graham and I made a spur of the moment decision to spend the weekend in Ambleside in the Lake District. A few clicks on the computer and we were booked into the Salutation Hotel for Friday and Saturday nights :)

We arrived late Friday morning and took a stroll around the town. This one up one down 17th Century house straddles the Stock Ghyll. It was originally built as an apple store but is reputed to have housed a family with six children!

                           

Later in the afternoon we took a stroll down to the edge of Lake Windermere and around the outer edges of the town. We had magnificent views of the surrounding hills and mountains.

On Saturday morning, after a delicious and hearty full English breakfast at the hotel we set off on our walk up to Loughrigg Fell. We got caught in a short shower but otherwise the weather was sunny but cold. The directions told us to take a steep road - oh boy was it steep!!! I had to stop several times to catch my breath. 

The photo below was the view we had behind us as we climbed the path. 

                                Views from Loughrigg

                                Lake Windermere

                                Just to the left on the photo below is the Trig Point on Loughrigg Fell

                                Grasmere Lake

                                The following two photos show the view we had when we stopped for lunch. 

                                 Rydal Water

On Sunday morning we took a walk up to Stock Ghyll Force which descends 70 feet. I would imagine that this area is really beautiful in summer when all the trees have their leaves and the flowers are in bloom.

And finally, this was the only wildlife we saw. A Herdwick sheep, native to the Lake District.