Woke to the birds chirping blue sky for a change and it feels a bit warmer this morning I don't need to put an extra layer of clothing on, might be getting into summer tops if the warm weather sets in.

The Chat Forum on the Camping and Caravanning website is good if you have a question or problem members help you , which a couple did. The cheapest ferry port to cross to Ireland in your motorhome is Cairnryan in Scotland so I quickly booked for Tuesday 20^th at the lovely time of 23.59pm that is when you get the cheaper prices. A ridiculous time for a two hour journey to Larne in Northern Ireland a bit of wild camping I think and it is closer the Giants Causeway where we want to go first.

The Lakes District was meant to be a relaxing time for us but we didn’t anticipate the warm weather, which brings the English out in droves plus it is the weekend. Starting off with a drive to Hawkshead the narrow winding two lanes road with either stones walls or houses on the edges of the roads was very interesting. Then the hairpin corners through the woodlands and mountains or very high hills higher than the Darling Rangers till we reached Hawkshead.

A very quaint little picturesque village of cobbled streets and clusters of whitewashed cottages huddled around secluded courtyards give the village a sense of intimacy that is rarely found elsewhere in the Lake District. Walked down narrow passageways with interesting names such as Leather, Rag and Putty Street (now Wordsworth Street) and at every turn there are interesting architectural features – jettied frontages, external stairways, truncated corners and an old spinning gallery or two. Add a few ancient coaching inns, cosy tea rooms and you have a delightful place for tourists to flock to like today.

Unbeknown to us this is where Beatrice Potter got her inspiration for her illustrations and children’s books (Peter the Rabbit) and her husband’s solicitors building is now part of the National Trust where all of her drawings, etc are kept and can be viewed. If time prevails we might go to Sawrey famously associated with Beatrix Potter’s house at Hill Top, where she wrote and illustrated several of her famous books.

High on the hill is St Michael’s Church overlooking the town and a lucky couple are getting married today the bells are tolling and down near where we parked is Richard’s favourite Cocoa Bean Company a chocolate haven.



Next we thought we would explore the area from Ambleside to Grasmere at the top of Windermere Lake, bad mistake very busy couldn’t see any carparks then a road maintenance holdup with a long queue of cars and somehow we were on the road to Windermere. The traffic was banked up for miles nowhere to turn around or park the whole area of Windermere to Bowness was packed with people. A real nightmare if you don’t know where you are going, narrow streets, bumper to bumper traffic a very stressful situation and the only resolution was to get out and drive the complete circle of the lakes back to the caravan site in Coniston.

A strong cuppa and lunch calmed the nerves after a very tiring morning. Took a nice stroll along Coniston Lake through the camp sites and fields to the village of Coniston. Quite warm now and we didn’t know the trail would take so long nearly an hour but the little stone building village was worth it pity the store didn’t stock the supplies we wanted. Don’t know how people in these little villages survive with only little corner shops no real supermarkets.

Took the short route back to the caravan site dodging cars on the narrow road till we found the trail. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.