Kaziah and I had breakfast at the hotel. We sat in the pub and watched dogs whine, bark, brief fight, lie calmly. Amazing. Dogs are invited almost everywhere, with some places having a note saying NO WET DOGS, but other than that, come on in. There are so many dogs here, the majority are small, but we saw a couple with 3 giant golden retrievers outside at the restaurant we went to last night. Maybe they’re local…
So – breakfast, then we had a taxi waiting for us, prearranged by MacsAdventures and he drove us over to Keswick, our next and last town in the Lake District – or Lakelands as it’s called locally. This is a much bigger town, but just as great as the last two. Our B and B is an 1844 refurbished home and is beautifully done. Drawback is that it’s a mile outside of town, which is a bit dismaying since, yes, we’re walking everywhere, but we’re good to go!
We dropped our bags, then walked into town, got a tea and scone (starting to see a pattern?) and then started our planned walk. Oh, so so beautiful (another pattern) and the day was gorgeous. We did the Derwent Water Loop via Walla Crag.
Heather – I don’t think I’ve ever seen it before, but have read about it SO many times. Truly a beautiful plant.
This is Derwent Water below Walla Crag. One of the islands is named St. Herbert. Here’s my history note for the day that I found online when I got back:
All we know of Herbert’s life comes from Bede’s History of the English Church and People (written around 731 AD) and Life of St. Cuthbert (720s AD)
Bede tells us that Herbert lived in prayer and solitude on an island in Derwent Water, but once a year would make a pilgrimage to Lindisfarne to visit his friend, St. Cuthbert.
One year, Cuthbert predicted that he would die before the year’s end (687 AD). Herbert was distraught, so Cuthbert petitioned God to allow them both to die at the same moment, so as to be reunited immediately in heaven. Miraculously, after returning to Derwent Water, Herbert died at the very same time as Cuthbert.
Gotta love history!
Crossing a stile – I have read so many times of people walking across the moors, or pastures, or fields – whatever and getting to them by climbing over them and I finally climbed over a couple on this hike!
And here’s the Derwent Water. The last third of our hike was walking alongside the lake and it was wonderful – every hike has been so different, wonderfully curated – as Kaziah noted today.
Reb's Walks! 