home again

No, I've not really been away for two whole weeks and a bit, though that would really be a treat! I've simply been catching up a bit on life and work.


We had the best week ever in the Lakes, with glorious sunshine and warm balmy days. We stop off in Matlock Bath on our way there as it breaks the journey. It is a delightful place, nestled in a valley -  almost Coleridge's "deep romantic chasm", beside the river Derwent. This time my dear one did a Very Brave Thing. We took the cable car all the way up to the Heights of Abraham, which for someone who has vertigo, was pretty daring! The views from there are magnificent

over the valley to Riber Castle, a Victorian Folly

and down to Matlock Bath

There are some remarkable wood sculptures there. Made in 2000 by Andrew Frost, they represent the sprits of the woodland and have weathered to a gentle silver grey.

After a night there, at the very fine Hodgkinson's Hotel, we went on to Langdale where we spent the week relaxing, walking, looking, sitting, reading, stitching, eating and generally being on holiday. It is a beautiful place, nestling alongside Langdale Beck, which runs beneath the lodge, giving us the benefit of its rushing energy and soothing sounds, lulling us to sleep and greeting us when we wake

The Beck is controlled by a weir, which was being rebuilt last year when we were there by these very fine chaps. We spent some time watching them hard at work, admiring their expertise and hoping the job would be done by the time we came back this year.


You can see how they went about it here 

This year, all was restored, bringing back the wonderful reflections and giving water back to the Estate where the Lodge is located.






And here is the most delightful video taken in the 1940's. The spirit of the place is the same, the Britannia still provides fine refreshments to weary walkers, but the accommodation is distinctly improved!

A few more pictures, to share a little bit of the pleasure we had

Sunset above the Langdale Pikes

Roses round the windows at Dove Cottage

Reflections on Windermere

Falling leaves patterning the lake

The rhythms of wooden boats by the shoreline

Stone, shadow and light

Autumn colours

and Grasmere, home to Wordsworth's daffodils

A beautiful place to restore energy and soothe the busy soul.