The Lake District

In the second week of the Easter holidays, we went to the Lake District for a couple of days (Tuesday 10th - Thursday 12th), staying for two nights in a Travelodge hotel.

When we got there, our room wasn't yet ready, so we went to Beatrix Potter's house, crossing Lake Windermere in the little ferry on the way.

Lake Windermere

On the ferry

At the Beatrix Potter's House ticket office, in a sudden heavy hail storm!

Some rabbits in Beatrix Potter's vegetable garden...

We had a tour of Beatrix Potter's home, and Harry spent the entire time looking for rat holes in the wainscotting (one of the guides told us about them). It was nice because one of the books in particular has lots of illustrations based on rooms in the house, so we bought that book afterwards.

Afterwards we went to Ambleside, and had dinner in a restaurant just down from here.

The next day we went to Consiton, to hike up the Old Man of Coniston.

Getting higher as we hiked...

Everyone else out hiking that day was all kitted up in proper walking clothes and footwear, and there we were in our jeans and trainers etc. (and in Lucy's case, plimsolls with no socks). What a bunch of townies! We also had no map, and only my vague idea that there would be a lake somewhere on the mountain - from when I was last there as a teenager! The kids all did brilliantly though, and we did eventually find the lake!

When I came here as a teenager, I had swum in the lake... not this time!

We stopped here for lunch and had a lovely time paddling.

The kids with their first ever Kendal Mint Cakes!

Back in Coniston, we had a good lunch in a hotel. Harry with his rather large burger.

We then found a park in Coniston, and the sun came out, so Lucy felt she should protect her skin...

After that, we drove down to Lake Coniston, and went for a trip round the Lake on the National Trust's restored Gondola.

Inside the boat.

Harry loved the snakes on the front of the boat.

It was a brilliant day - everyone enjoyed it thoroughly. I was glad the kids liked the Lake District as much as me.

The next day, we headed back for home, stopping off at Morecambe Bay on the way. We just had a walk along the beach. The BBC were filming some scenes for a History/Drama programme which should be showing in Sept/Oct this year. I spoke to one of the film crewe. It was nice seeing people in period clothing, and a vintage car.

We also stopped off at the Preston Temple for a few moments. The kids have never been here either.

And lastly, we stopped off at an American diner for tea, before finally getting home.