A late morning start from Muncaster Mill Station in the South West of the Lakes. Jo greets old friend Ian Smith whose family have a holiday apartment at nearby Seascale
Gareth Hiley and Kathryn are up from Swansea on a visit to Gareth's parents, Roger and Ann. Here we are headed on the bridleway which leads from Muncaster Mill towards Muncaster Casle.
Foxgloves and Rhododendrons
The lane leading to Muncaster Tarn
Bethan and Polly head straight for the water. Although very pretty, the tarn is a small reservoir which once provided water to the Muncaster Estate.
Harry on the other side of the water lilies.
For some reason best known to himself, Harry tried to swim/wade back through the lilies!
Amber on a mission to rescue Harry! Fortunately both dogs got out ok.
The tarn has several islands - on which wildfowl nest
Strange place to find a deserted fire engine!
A few minutes later we found the driver. A bush fire had broken out on the fell the day before and the fire service were still damping down the embers.
We then had a half hour break from the walk whilst we looked for Amber who has gone deer hunting! Jo's face has a relieved look as Amber had just returned.
The summit of Muncaster fell is in sight.
Polly by the trig point on Muncaster Fell
Gareth and Kathryn
Posers!
The rest of us waited whilst Ann and Jo had a very important conversation - about something very important - possibly. Or possibly not! ;~)
A strange find of a group of "dressed" sandstone pieces - as if lumps of an old Church had been left up here.
Not an ancient monument but a victorian dining table used by shooting parties - it is called Ross's Camp and we stopped there for lunch
"Ross's Camp 1883"
For those who like cotton grass this must be Mecca! In the distance, Harter Fell (in shadow) is to the left and Green Crag is mid picture also in shadow.
Harter Fell from the descent from Muncaster Fell
Mmm - mud - just what we wanted!
the footpath went through a delightful informal garden belonging to a guest house
the guest house proprietor and his retriever
first sight of the famous little train called L'aal Ratty which runs up the valley from Ravenglass to Boot
Irton Road station just below the village of Eskdale Green
A climbing hydrangea growing through a conifer at Eskdale Green
Eskdale Green station. We had ice creams in the village and then headed to the station to catch the train back to Muncaster Mill
Not your usual station carpark!
I think this is how Americans think of England!
Old advertising sign
All aboard. The cost was £3.40 each - seems a lot for a few miles but it does save a long walk back to the cars.
Back at Irton Road station again.
We were in a diesel but the other train on the line today is a steam train
Beautiful!
We stopped to collect some firefighters
Back at Muncaster Mill station where we started from
The old mill is now a private house but, hopefully, they gave the firemen a nice cuppa after a hard day of hot work
Then off to Ravenglass for tea and scones
Luckily this was a special one calorie cream tea - otherwise I would have felt guilty eating it!
A tiny bit of salt marsh at Ravenglass
the "sea wall"
All the dogs took to the sea - apart from Amber who doesn't really "do" immersion in salt water.
Let's all leave Jodie out there on her own!
Ravenglass main street from the beach. On the right, next to the life belt, you can see the steel flood gate which protects the street in storms
looking back down the main street
Stunning!
This deserves a prize at Chelsea
another cottage garden
For Sale! Includes a decent sized house with extension, smashing garden, superb sea views and a Petrol Pump selling "National" petrol at 1/5 a gallon! - That is 1 shilling and 5 pence which is about 7 pence in "new" decimal money. So I would guess the pump is about as old as me (64)
Last look out to sea from the sea wall at Ravenglass before heading home.
