Lake District - Keswick

There were hundreds of B&Bs to choose from in Keswick, but they were all around 20 pounds per person, pretty expensive. And there was no shortage of pubs to eat in, though they also seemed expensive. (There's no high-rise or even medium density housing in Keswick, which cuts down the options for hotels. It also makes the town attractive.)

Saturday September 13th

We had our cooked breakfast - hard to turn down when it's part of the accommodation deal, worries about cholesterol notwithstanding! - then went to the Tourist Information Centre to check out walks.

We picked a short local walk to La Trigg, a viewpoint north of Keswick which offers views of the colorful heath-covered slopes above, in the direction of Skiddaw, and over Keswick and Derwent Water below.

On the way back down we ate a few wild blackberries, then had lunch in the woods by the Greta River. The track back along the river to town follows a disused causeway, passing an old bobbin factory and a prize-winning concrete bridge.

Back with the car, we did a big loop around Derwent Water. First stop was in Borrowdale, where we had scones, jam and tea. Then it was up a steep winding road to Honister Pass, where a slate mine was obviously a major attraction, with cars and people everywhere. We continued past Buttermere and Crummock Water, stopping once for a short walk.

Going back through Keswick, we stopped at Castle Rigg stone circle -- a popular spot, with maybe fifty people there, including a wedding party being photographed. On the way out of the Lake District, we took a roundabout route via Ullswater.

Then, heading for Newcastle, we took the A66 Northern Pennines Scenic Route, which was indeed scenic but slower and windier than expected. At one point we stopped for some pheasants crossing the road, only to see a car going the other way hit one, producing a big explosion of feathers. This left Camilla a bit shaken, but she got us back to Newcastle ok.

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