Blencathra.

So...on a lovely day, at the weekend we got away to climb Blencathra, fourth highest mountain in England. We first climbed it together 16 years ago and I don't remember Sharp Edge being so scary. My legs are still sore from the descent.

The things you have to do to stop hikers messing up your garden!

Great Mell Fell

Sharp Edge...

Scales Tarn

On the Edge...

Scafell Pike

Hellvelyn

Heading down...

Sharp Edge from the descent...

Blencathra or Saddleback

Lowther Castle.

So...we also visited the gardens at Lowther Castle. It's a while since we have been there and it was great to see the work that has gone on in the meantime. It is well worth a visit and we will definitely go back again.

Countess Summerhouse...

Roman Bath

The Rock Garden...

Japanese Garden...

Rose Garden Summerhouse...

In the Rose Garden...

Jubilee Summerhouse

The Lowther Valley...

Jack Croft's Summerhouse...

The sound of the bull frogs calling in the pond was amazing!

Magnificent Beech

Idiots! What were they thinking?!!!

The Queen's Head, Tirril...

Long Meg and Lacy's Caves.

So...we had a bit more time off over the weekend and made the most of it, firstly heading off for a walk around Little Salkeld to revisit Long Meg and her Daughters and Lacy's caves by the River Eden.

Alfred.

So...we are watching Alfred 'Down Under' as he heads inland finally. He will shortly cross the coast north of Brisbane below Caloundra as a category 1 storm and quickly weaken into a low. Most of the heavy rain is further south and causing flooding already. Stanthorpe does not appear to have had much rain yet but that might change as Alfred heads further inland. Here are some screenshots of his approach. Frogknot is where the black pin is.

Update! (11.03.25)

So... it looks like we escaped the worst of the weather with Frogknot only getting about 17mms of rain. There has been a lot of flooding nearer the coast and in Brisbane. The Clarence down at Maclean rose up but did not cross the road under Tracy's property but she had 300 mms of rain. Some areas further east had over 900 mms of rain!

The Fell.

So...after 'The Bay' and 'The Caravan' we were back in Penrith. We had time for a wander around town and the next day went for a walk on Moor Divock, near Pooley Bridge and Ullswater in the Lake District.

Ullswater

High Street, the old Roman Road

The Cockpit...prehistoric stone circle...

Fell ponies...

On Heughscar Hill

Penrith