Walking in the Lakes

IF you want to go to the Lake District – an ideal time to visit is before Christmas.

I have just been to the Lakes for the weekend with some friends.

We were supposed to stay at Ambleside but because of the recent heavy rain The Youth Hostel was closed.

However The Youth Hostel at Hawkshead was still open, so we decided to stay there instead.

The facility was self-catered and had a pool table, unfortunately I was not successful in the two games I played.

On the first full day we were provided with a full breakfast, which is just what you need before a day of walking.

Just before 10am we started off on our walk, but didn’t get very far before the heavens opened – and we soon found ourselves back at The Youth Hostel.

Luckily it was only a shower and after about 10 minutes we were on our way again.

One of our party had brought outdoor cooking equipment and sausages, eggs and bacon and managed to cook the food during a stop on the walk.

An off-road car rally was also taking place that afternoon – and provided the entertainment while we enjoyed our lunch.

On the way back we stopped off at the Grizedale visitor centre and the hot chocolate I had was well received.

Tea was a tasty curry.

We then made our way to Hawkshead for drinks.

At the first pub we visited we played cards and had a quiet drink. The second pub we went to was much more lively. The pub was small and packed and an excellent Irish band was providing the entertainment.

On the next day it was time to go home.