Respects

On Monday morning, Malcolm and I set off for Windermere. It is some 14 years since we had the sad task of scattering Malcolm's Father's ashes on Orrest Head - the small fell that overlooks the town and lake - so we like to pay our respects when we're in the area. Unusually, it was pretty quiet on the top and although it was rather dull and cold, at least it wasn't raining. We glimpsed the lake through the trees on the way up.

In the distance, small patches of snow were still hanging around on the tops of Crinkle Crags (it would be added to in spectacular fashion on Wednesday morning.)

Described as one of the finest viewpoints in the Lakes, Orrest Head certainly lives up to it's reputation, even on a dull morning in April.

Below us as we stood contemplating the scenery, we were also treated to the sight and sound of two F15 Eagle fighter jets as they practiced low-flying through the valleys.
It's a very nice place to choose for a last resting place.

We still had plenty of time to spare, so we moved on, down to Bowness-on-Windermere, to get a closer view of the water. As usual, it was well populated with swans, geese, ducks and gulls, on the shore.

This Black-headed Gull was enjoying the view too...

... and it's not a bad view at all!

We had a short stroll along the lakeside, looking over to Belle Isle. It is the largest of Windermere's Islands and the only one to have been inhabited (indeed, the Roman governor of Ambleside built his villa there). Belle Isle Round House now dominates the view and is still a private residence for the Curwen family who have owned it and the island since 1781.

Still more to come...

Home Again

Malcolm and I returned home yesterday, from a few days away in the Lake District. It's always something of a gamble going to the Lakes, as the weather can be (and often is) rather bad. But on this occasion, we were very lucky and had some surprisingly good weather. We started our stay, with a walk along the Lancaster Canal.

The skies were rather grey, but it remained dry for our walk and gloriously quiet as we enjoyed all the Celandines growing along the banks.

Several small bridges cross the canal. Not all of them carry roads or tracks. This one for example seems to have no purpose other than to allow farm access.

Dotted along the canal, clumps of daffodils added a little colour to the scene. Wordsworth would have been proud!

Then there was another bridge, again, with no road over it...

Soon, we were looking down towards the Mill Pond at the southern end of Holme village.

... another bridge, this one carrying Sheernest Lane.

A little further on, we spotted some strange structures in the grass across the canal.

Conveniently, an information board was provided and it turns out these were old coke ovens. It isn't known when they were built, but it's thought to be soon after the opening of the northern end of the canal in 1819.

They were not in use for long, as the nearby railway line meant that it would have been cheaper and easier to transport coal, stone and coke from elsewhere.
So that was the first day. more to come...

Attenborough

This morning, we took Malcom's Mum, for a trip out to  Attenborough Nature Reserve. The weather was being very kind to us as we walked around the various lakes and water-ways of the reserve.

There were plenty of wildfowl to be seen, as well as Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, Robins and Cetti's Warblers in the trees and hedgerows.

All the while, our progress was being overlooked, by the looming presence of Ratcliffe Power Station. As Malcolm said, 'anyone who objects to having a wind farm near their home, should be given one of these instead and see how they like that'.

The walk took us along the Trent for part of the way...

and then back towards the visitor's centre and car parks. On the way, we stopped to watch some more bird life and stumbled across this Little Egret, fishing in the shallows.

Not so many years ago, you would have had to take a trip to the Mediterranean to see these birds, but now, they have become quite common in the UK.

Back to the car and on for some lunch to wish Pat an early, happy mother's day!

Round the Lake

It was another beautiful, sunny morning as Malcolm and I set out for our walk today, so we decided we would do a circuit of Shipley Lake, taking in Osborne's Pond on the way. The Maple Trees are just beginning to show their characteristic lime green flowers and set against a bright blue sky, they outshone everything else.

From a distance, the casual observer might dismiss them as fresh green leaves, but closer inspection shows them for what they are.

On Shipley Hill, the Dog's Mercury is flowering too. A familiar plant, it is usually completely overlooked, but such an early herald of spring, shouldn't be ignored.

Up through 'Beggar's Walk' and Malcolm was looking the part!

At the gardens of the old Shipley Hall, the Pieris is in full bloom too, its small, bell-like flowers giving away its family relationship to the Heathers.

The fresh, new leaf shoots stand out like little red flames among the green leaves and white flowers.

Back down to the lake and a pair of Mute Swans were drifting about looking for food. Just perfect!

Sunny

As Malcolm and I stepped out this morning, it soon became clear that a warm hat would have been useful. Despite the sunshine and blue skies, there was a decidedly chilly breeze blowing. But we soon managed to get find some shelter from the wind and in the sun, it was really lovely.

The White blossom of the Blackthorn, was looking particularly good in the sunshine as we looked out across the fields of Shipley Park. Along the hedges of Slack Lane, the Gorse was blooming too and giving off a delicious fragrance of coconut in the warmth.

Crossing a small brook, we stopped to enjoy the sounds of bubbling water and the birds, singing in the trees all around.

Malcolm had to stop for a 'selfie' opportunity as we passed the enormous, wooden spider....

Back to that peaceful, babbling brook, I thought a minute of relaxing video might be welcome after looking at the spider...

Aaah! That's better.

Water Landscape

Just a few pictures from our walks of the last two days. Yesterday, we walked to Osborne's in the sunshine and had to stop to take a couple of pictures across the water.

The trees and reeds at the side of the water, are yet to spring into life, so the scene is still a little colourless and 'beige', but the bright blue sky reflected in the water, helped a lot.

In among the grasses and twigs of the verges, lots of small, yellow flowers are now showing their bright faces. They look a little like Dandelions, but they're not. They are in fact, Coltsfoot.

Always one of the first of the spring flowers, they are a welcome sight, especially when they open their flowers in the sunshine.

This morning, we took ourselves off to walk along the old Nottingham Canal.

Construction began on the canal in 1792 but it never really succeeded, due to mismanagement and the rise railways in the nineteenth century. Now, it is mostly gone, but a few small stretches still contain water - just!

Further along the Erewash Valley, we could see Bennerley Viaduct in the distance. Built in 1876/7, it is now a Grade II* listed structure 1452ft long and some 60ft above the river Erewash. It was built to carry the Great Northern Railway. Shame it was such a dull morning, but we will no doubt be back again soon.

Lone Walk

I was on my own for my walk this morning. Malcolm had matters maternal to attend to, so I set out for Shipley Hill and Mapperley Reservoir. I stopped off at Shipley Lake on the way, to see if the Gadwall were still present on the 'overflow' lake. Unfortunately, they seem to have gone, at least for the time being, but I still have a couple of pictures of these delightful little ducks from a few days ago, at Straw's Bridge. As usual, it's the male bird which takes the eye.

The female bird would be difficult to tell apart from a Mallard if it were not that she was sticking so closely to her man...

Wherever he went, there went she...

Back to this morning and as I got to the far side of Shipley Hill, I stopped to look over the fields and the Hedgerows of Blackthorn, still in blossom, despite the battering they've had over the past week.

When I got to Mapperley Reservoir, it was so peaceful, that I thought I would try out the video facility on my new camera. I must say, I was quite impressed with the resulting minute of peace - except for the Canada Geese in the background, especially as it was so dull and overcast, not the best day for a video.

I must try some more videos, when the weather is a little better.