Wigtwizzle - Norman Smith's Travel Blog.: windermere

It must have been twentry years since I was last on Holme Fell when I was helping a friend do the Wainwrights. I've been to Hodge Close a fair few times but have always walked down into Little Lnagdale and not up Holme Fell.

I really have missed so much. It must be one of the most beautiful fells in The Lakes; not very high but a pure joy to walk upon. There has been a lot of quarrying in the past so there are a few disused dams scattered about and the remnants of many disused quarries but these just add to the beauty of the place. Nature has done a superb job and created beauty which ever direction you look.

The views from up high are first class as well; to the west you can see some of the Coniston Fells and to the north west are The Langdale Fells. Eastwards Windermere can be seen and on a clear day, you can see right across to The Yorkshire Dales.

I didn't quite make it to the top but I'm presuming that from the summit, you can see Coniston Water and right down to Morecambe Bay.

Due to my health issues, I knew when I had reached my limit, so I just found a large boulder to plonk my behind on, sat for a while and picked another of the many paths scattering the fell to walk back down to Hodge Close and my car.

Without doubt I will be returning, as my walk on Holme Fell was one of the most enjoyable I have done for many a year.

Hodge Close Quarry

Quarry Path, Hodge Close

Disused Dam, Holme Fell

Looking towards Wetherlam

Disused Dam, Holme Fell

Holme Fell

Langdale Pikes

Holme Fell

Disused Dam, Holme Fell

Some photos from various Lake District locations which were take last October during a drive out in the car. My route firstly took me down to Ullswater via the Matterdale and the Aira Force road. I didn't stop at the Force but carried on down to the Lake.

My first stop was at Mossdale Bay near Glencoyne, for a walk down to the shore and then through the woods to the boat house where there were, as the photos show, some beautiful autumn colours.

As I neared Brothers Water, the reflection looked absolutely perfect to I parked up at set off along the riverside path. The Lake was only about a half mile from where I parked but in the short time it took me to get there, the reflections had all but disappeared!

Feeling rather disgruntled, I went over The Kirkstone Pass and down to Windermere where I followed the Lake down to Newby Bridge before stopping at The Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway for a coffee and a bite to eat. I had intended travelling on the steam train but, true to form, my luck was out and the railway line had closed for the season.

Feeling even more disgruntled, I drove up the west side of Windermere, through some beautiful autumn woodland, and then had a short stop at Esthwaite Water before heading back to the caravan. Instead of staying on the main road through The Lakes, I took the small back road round Thirlmere, where I got some lovely reflections of the Helvellyn fells in the reservoir so all was not lost.

All in all, a long day which hadn't gone exactly as planned but still very enjoyable.