Lake District

In October Ken and I took the chance to go for a weekend trip to the Lake District. After a nightmare getting there (detours, change of rental car and traffic) we made it late Friday night to our B&B.

We were staying in Ambleside and due to the fact it was raining on the Saturday morning we decided to go to Hill Top, home of Beatrix Potter.

Me about to enter Hill Top

Ken inside Hill Top warming his hands by the fire

After a quick education on Peter Rabbit for Ken who claims he hadn't ever heard of him and a look around the house, the rain had stopped and we were able to wander in the surrounding farm land and take a look before heading for a pub lunch.

I hadn't driven since arriving in the UK so Ken handed over the keys and let me drive us from Hill Top to the pub. The little lanes we drove down were the type you see in the movies. If I had met a car going in the other direction I would have been reversing for miles. It was extremely scenic and Ken enjoyed the chance to enjoy the view.

Typical Lake District scenery - taken near Hill Top

After lunch we drove back to the B&B to change into our walking gear and drove out to walk the Grasmere/Old Coffin trial that was recommended in the Lonely Planet. The walk was gentle and we were able to take in the lakes, rivers, streams, stepping stones, bridges along the way.

Setting out along on of the many small lanes

Feeling rather active

Ken found a hole perfect for sitting in along the way

After our walk we went back to the B&B before heading to the Glass House for dinner. The Glass House, had once appeared on Gordon Ramsey's Hell's Kitchens but now was receiving rave reviews. We were in for a surprise as once we were seated, Rosie Cranshaw, a girl we both knew from Levin found us. She was going to be our waitress!

We were moved to a table by the window which also had seats that both Rosie and the owner of the restaurant could perch on throughout the evening. We caught up on what Rosie had been up to and were able to share any Levin news we had. The owner was also able to fill us in on the interesting circumstances surrounding him being on Hell's Kitchen, soon after he had bought the restaurant (it was advertised as a show for new owners of restaurants, that wanted to make changes. We were also interested to find out that Gordon had taken 3 of the Glass House chef's with him.

The next day after another superb breakfast at the B&B we set off on a walk behind where we were staying. This was not as gentle as the walk the day before. More along the lines of trig in Levin. It was all worth it for the views at the end.

We loved our trip to the Lake District and it still rates as one of our best places we have visited so far, including in Europe. People were so friendly, everyone you passed said hello. We were lucky enough to have a chat with a local at the end of our walk on our last day who was approaching 80 and had lived in the area his whole life and was still walking everyday. He was pleased to find out we were from NZ as he was a rugby man and thought all soccer players were pansy's!

We are very keen to get back there for a visit again soon!!

Ken and I at the top of the hill we climbed on our last day.