Wigtwizzle - Norman Smith's Travel Blog.

My Lockdown Saviour

One final burst of autumn colour from the place which has helped me stay sane this year. I've lost count of the number of times that I have walked the path up to The Druid's Alter and sat overlooking the Aire Valley, trying to make sense of what has been going on around me since the pandemic hit in March. Eight months have now passed, and we seem no nearer to seeing any closure. A vaccine is reportedly on the horizon and all being well will be in use by the end of the year but I fear this virus will never go away.

The only positive thing to come out of all this mess is the realization that the long-standing friendship I have had with mother nature over the years has, yet again, been my salvation. Unfortunately others have been less fortunate.

Footpath to The Druid's Alter

Autumn Grasses

Footpath to The Druid's Alter

Bridleway up to The Druid's Alter

St Ives

Druid's Alter Plantation

Alter Lane

Golf Course Plantation

Race Course Plantation

A Damp Thirlmere

Photos from a quick trip down the A66 with the camera once the rain had eased off. The footpaths everywhere were soggy and, not for the first time recently, I ended up with wet feet but I was treated to even more of Lakeland's incredible autumn colours as compensation. This year they seem to have been particularly good, the ones in and around the valve house and overspill area of the reservoir being really spectacular. It would have been nice to have better light but I'm afraid you get what you get at this time of year.

Just to be out in the midst of such beauty, whatever the weather was ample reward.

Legburthwaite

St John's Beck

River Lowther from Askham Bridge

Taking Cover

Contoneaster

St John's Beck

Legburthwaite

Steel Fell

Steel Felln

Steel End

Wythburn

Thirlmere Shoreline Path

Thirlmere Shoreline

Raven Crag

Thirlmere

Autumn Colours

Thirlmere Dam Road

Raven Crag

Thirlmere Shoreline Path

An Autumnal River Lowther

Took these photos on my way up to The Lakes where I was having a catch up with my mate Dave whilst I still can. Covid-19 is rife at the moment in Bradford so I fear that Tier 3 is imminent for the whole of West Yorkshire. This could be the last time I see the Lakes for quite a while.

The autumn colours around these parts were simply fabulous, especially along the banks of the River Lowther. These days the River Lowther originates from the reservoir at Wet Sleddale but in bygone times it would have started on the wet slopes of the Shap Fells and be known as Sleddale Beck. Wet Sleddale is derived from Old Norse 'sletta dalr' which means valley with the flat land, the Wet part speaks for itself! It joins the River Eamont near Brougham and then flows in to the River Eden and out to sea on The Solway Firth.

Askham is a very pretty little village, especially in spring when the village green is awash with daffodils. It is also home to the excellent Punchbowl Inn. As with most things in these parts, it has connections with the Lowther Family who own Askham Hall where the 7th Earl of Lonsdale currently resides.

I didn't spend too long here as I needed to get to the caravan, get the heating on and warm the place up but my stop whetted my appetite for the coming weekend.