By a Mossy Gnome

Right everyone - it’s feather-preening time

Geese on Windermere, originally uploaded by byamossygnome.com.

Another scene on the edge of Windermere at the weekend.   It seemed to be preening time on the water’s edge.   At the same moment, numerous ducks, geese and swans decided that this was the moment to sort their feathers out.   The greylag goose in the foreground seems to have a damaged wing, so perhaps it is unable to fly back to wherever greylags spend the summer - unless, of course, it is a permanent resident. Its partner is with it, together with a friend, who is looking rather indignant.

Swan Lake

Swan Lake, originally uploaded by byamossygnome.com.

The day started with heavy grey cloud and showers, but pale yellow primroses dotted the green at the side of the motorway, and tiny new lambs staggered around in the fields. By lunch time the cloud had lifted and the landscape was full of colour.  Here is a picture from the end of the day - swans swimming on Windermere as the first sunset of summertime approaches.

Lambs at Leighton Moss

Lambs at Leighton Moss, originally uploaded by byamossygnome.com.

Mummy , what’s that white shiny stuff over there?

That’s water, Larry.

What’s water, Mummy?

It’s the same as the stuff that’s falling on us from the sky, and making all those bird-watchers pull their hoods up and run away saying: “Let’s go to the café.”  It’s called Leighton Moss.

Can I go there, Mummy?

No, Larry.  It’s full of big, scary geese and swans and ducks.  You stay here and eat some nice grass.

Ah, but Mummy…

I said - eat your greens.

Another death on the mountains

Red Screes, originally uploaded by byamossygnome.com.

I can’t say I knew him well - I only met him a couple of times.  But he was close to people I know, and it was a shock when the news came that he had died while walking on Red Screes - obviously even more so for his distressed family and friends.  He was reported as overdue from a walk early in the evening, and the Langdale-Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team, together with search dogs, found his body later that night.   

I have few pictures of Red Screes, and it looks a benign and gentle hill in this picture taken on an autumn evening.   It can be fierce in winter, though. Spare a thought and a prayer for those he left behind.  Spare a grateful thought, also, for the members of the Lake District Mountain Rescue teams, often over-stretched these days.

And over to the right…

View from Nab Scar, originally uploaded by byamossygnome.com.

More of that view from Nab Scar. There’s Harter Fell, the little pointy one to the right of the Coniston Fells, and just above the brown slopes of Lingmoor. To the right of that is Pike O' Blisco then, with tops sprinkled with snow like icing sugar, Crinkle Crags and Bowfell (as climbed by Julia Bradbury in the Wainwright series) and the Langdale Pikes. The jewel in this setting is the lake at Grasmere.

It’s time for another cup of tea. After years of fell-walking, these hills hold many memories, of various struggles and effort, assorted weather, and a great deal of beauty and it’s good to just sit and look over them.

Worth the climb

View from Nab Scar, originally uploaded by byamossygnome.com.

Another weekend away from the Lake District, in a much flatter part of the country, so it’s back to pictures and memories until I next go walking there.   In the meantime, heavy snow has fallen and melted again, and there have been some lovely pictures of snow-covered mountains recently on some favourite sites.    My last visit was before this sudden burst of winter weather, although the wind was very cold and a few faint traces of white survived on the highest tops.

This is part of the view which rewards the walker who is prepared to trudge patiently up Nab Scar.  Suddenly you are looking out over Loughrigg and the Coniston Fells, also Rydal Water, Grasmere and (you can just see it glinting beyond Loughrigg) Elterwater.

Leaving the Bank Holiday crowds behind

Southport from Marshside, originally uploaded by byamossygnome.com.

That’s Southport, with its pier (the second longest pier in the country!), viewed from Marshside.   Lord Street was very busy, as Bank Holiday crowds were drawn by the sunshine (occasionally interrupted by snow showers) to enjoy a day out there.  After all the bustle, it was quite a relief to stop for a walk and some bird watching at nearby Marshside.   The air was filled with the sound of skylarks.

Southport is a lovely town, especially Lord Street, but there’s a certain place I'd rather be.   Guess where.

I’m not out of breath, honest - just looking at the view

Windermere, originally uploaded by byamossygnome.com.

It’s a steep climb up Nab Scar above Rydal. If you don’t give up, and keep going for long enough, you can walk round the whole Fairfield Horseshoe and then return to Rydal. A brief rest to catch your breath will give you the excuse to look back over Rydal towards Windermere. To the left of the lake are the grey roofs of Ambleside, tucked in at the foot of Wansfell. Then it’s time to continue the uphill trudge towards a summit which turns out, after all that climbing, to be merely one end of a ridge of much larger hills.

Same tea, different view

Bridge over Rydal Falls, originally uploaded by byamossygnome.com.

This is another view you can enjoy over your tea or coffee at the Old School Room Tea Shop at Rydal Hall if you happen to be sitting at one of the outdoor tables facing the other way.   You can see what happens to the stream next (another waterfall) if you make your way through the renovated gardens across the lane.

Tea with a view

Rydal Falls, originally uploaded by byamossygnome.com.

For the weather-proof, who like to sit outside cafes and enjoy a fine view over while drinking their coffee or tea here is another one.   Some cafes look out over mountains or lakes, but this one is beside Rydal Falls.   This is the view from outside the Old School Room Tea Shop at Rydal Hall.  Don’t worry - for the less hardy there are tables indoors.   

Across the lane from the café are some restored gardens, not at their best at this time of year, but worth a visit later.