A Walk Around Elterwater

There's nothing like a cold and crispy winter's day and a good walk. We were back in the Lake District recently and decided to take one of our favourite walks from the village of Elterwater, by the river Brathay and the lake to Skelwith Bridge and back again. 

It was the end of the half term week and the only glorious day of the week so the walkers were out in force. It can become quite busy here as it is mainly a good, flat path which is ideal for families, buggies and dog walkers alike. There is also a good pub in the heart of Elterwater Village - the Britannia Inn - and a lovely cafe - Chesters by the River - at Skelwith Bridge. You can sit outside at both, so perfect if you have a doggy friend with you. 

The scenery is amazing, you feel as though you're in the heart of Lakeland - well I suppose you are when you are in the Great Langdale Valley. The Langdales provide a beautiful backdrop and we were lucky on our visit, as they were frosted in snow and looked simply stunning. The pathways lead along the riverside, by the lake and through woodlands and there is plenty of wildlife to see. We heard woodpeckers, saw blackbirds, wrens, robins, birds of prey, swans with their cygnets and wild geese. Of course, as it's the Lake District, there were plenty of sheep out on the fells too, so Ted our cocker spaniel stayed on his long lead. 

To complete the day, when we finished our walk, we drove up and over the fells to the east side of Coniston Water and enjoyed tea and cake and a wander around the grounds at Brantwood. 

A perfect day. 

 

The Bluebells at Rannerdale

Known as the 'Secret Valley of the Bluebells', Rannerdale has to be one of the most stunning valleys in  England when it is time for the bluebells to bloom. It is actually stunning at any time of year. Found by the side of Crummock Water, there is a small National Trust car park, as the valley and fell belongs to the National Trust. Should you drive past, you would just think it's another one of those glorious National Trust walks that are plentiful in the Lake District, but it is much more than that at bluebell time. From the road side you can spot a little haze of misty blue, purple colours that just blend with the browns, greens and greys of the fells and mountain ridges. It could be mistaken for slate even and you might drive on towards Buttermere, missing a real treat. 

If you happen to stop and take a closer look, walk down a narrow path from the car park, you come upon a gate with a sign about bluebells and your first glimpses of bluebells that make you do one huge double take. Bluebells on a forsaken mountain side? Astonishing - but yes - whole carpets of English bluebells, sweeping the whole valley towards the lake below. It's a marvellous sight and beautiful walking territory. Pathways lead you through the enchanting bluebells, across becks and streams, bluebells nodding down at you from the slopes of Rannerdale Knotts. 

You could believe that fairies actually exist here, but this secret valley is associated with darker folklore. It is rumoured that native Britons and Norsemen fought the Normans here some years after the battle of 1066. The Normans were lured into the valley and defeated and the bluebells are triggered from the blood shed of the battle. Personally, I 'd prefer to stick with my imaginings of fairies - this must be where they first came from! The panoramic views, peacefulness, the beauty and silence, the trickle of the beck  - it does make you want to sit, look upon it all, imagine and conjure up your thoughts...

The Rannerdale Bluebells truly are a moving show of nature in all it's glory.