A Ramble Through the Meadows Near Muker

Another easy day, walking gently through the meadows beside the River Swale below Muker. Muker, still bedecked in Le Tour bunting was busy as always. We soon left the crowds behind though....

The paths flagged as you head off towards the Swale....and its not even the Pennine Way!

Looking North up the Swale towards Crackpot Hall.

One of the many field barns here in Swaledale, sadly many of them falling into disrepair.

As we followed the Swale Eastwards, we arrived at Ivelet Bridge. Which we crossed to return to Muker.

Tumbling water in the side stream of Oxnop Gill.

Almost back at Muker, and another dales barn with Kisdon to the left and Ivelet Side on the right.
Once back at Muker we rewarded ourselves with ice cream.
A short but grand walk in wonderful surroundings, and weather!

Edenhall (nr. Langwathby)

An easy day exploring the environs of Edenhall nr Langwathby in the Eden valley east of Penrith. An area I must have passed hundreds of times over the years, there's always something new to see...and learn.

The path follows the River Eden for much of the way, as it climbed away for a short distance we came upon this sculpture...carved from the wonderful warm Eden Sandstone.

The Eden is wide at this point, but shallow. Cross Fell, Little and Great Dun Fell are in the background.

After crossing the recently harvested fields we arrived at this cross at the junction of the minor road to the church.
 I can't find much about it at the moment?

The church of St Cuthbert at Edenhall, home to the remains of many of the Baronets of Edenhall, the Musgrave family, dating back to the mid 1600's
From the church it was only a short way back to the car in the village.
A nice quiet area for a Bank Holiday Monday!

A Day Out at the Seaside...and a Couple of Hours Beside Wastwater

Nothing complicated today just a simple day enjoying the fringes of the Lakes...away from the school holiday crowds. Here on the beach at Ravenglass, great watching a "Jammy Crane" (Heron) fishing.
 Flat strolls were required...and found!!

We had a chat with the owners of this super catamaran, they were anti-fouling the hulls....fresh back from St. Kilda. Lucky Blighters!

Round to Wasdale, and lunch beside Wastwater. Is there a better view in England?

After another short walk at Nethertown, we arrived at Whitehaven. The harbour has undergone a transformation over recent years. A huge change from the time over 40 years ago when we used to travel up here from Bowness to fish in the winter months.
The sign/sculpture above is of course the C2C starting point.

Across one of the marina basins towards the town.

The "candlestick" about all that's left of Wellington Pit, the scene of Cumbria's worst mining disaster.
This is an article on the 100th anniversary of this dreadful day.
St. Bees head in the background.
A great day, in superb weather.

Motorcycle Ride to Dunnet Head

I've been to all the other "points" on the mainland of Britain, and indeed John O' Groats and Duncansby Head. I hadn't been to Dunnet Head, (confirmed after a conversation with my father!..although he's been since I went on family holidays as a child ) so this needed to be ticked. A suitable target for a short trip on my recently acquired BMW F800s.

I dislike motorways on the motorbike so have a route I've used many times on trips through the Borders, here we see the entrance to the Kaygu Samye Ling Monastery near Eskdalemuir.

I stopped near Innerleithen for my lunch. The weather perfect!

I called in at South Queensferry for an ice cream....

and to see progess on the new Forth Crossing. The towers are visable "under" the "old " bridge. It's due to be completed in 2016.

Onwards via Blairgowerie and Glen Shee to Glen Clunie and Braemar. I was booked in at the SYHA for the night. I crossed the road at this very point on the TGOC in May this year.

Tuesday morning and the weather looked good again, down to Crathie then up the road towards Tomintoul. This is the view for those who look back...Lochnagar.

Corgarff Castle was catching the sunlight as I started the climb up and over the Lecht.

I joined the A9 near Carrbridge and followed it North stopping and exploring the small villages which I haven't been to for many years. This is the monument to Neil Gunn beside the quay in Dunbeath.

This is the harbour of Lybster, the old buildings beside the harbour converted into a very nice cafe. Coffee and cake were sampled....excellent eaten outside in the glorious sunshine.

A short distance further North are the Walligoe Steps...it must have been a different breed who carried full baskets of fish back up these steps!!

Dunnet Bay, another crowded Scottish beach!

The view from Dunnet Head lighthouse, ominously the rain is starting to drift in across the Orkney's.

The object of the mission achieved!
Amazingly it had been dry all the way from home, but as I turned to leave and ride to the hostel at Tongue it started to rain. Over the return trip rain would be a feature. Not many photos of the return trip!
Plus it was all on familiar terrain.

Tongue hostel, I stayed here many years ago when it was SYHA. It's now an independant.
I spent much of the evening chatting to a couple of guys walking Marilyns...one of them had done 1400!

It rained for much of Wednesday...infact only stopping when I arrived at the newly re-roofed Carn Dearg SYHA. This is a favourite hostel of mine, long may it remain within the network.
The ride home was on more familiar roads, wet until Fort William, but mainly dry from there on.