Lake District; On the way - Lyme and Rufford Old Hall

 On a short break almost as much time is spent travelling as at the location you're heading to, so I believe in making that journey interesting - country roads instead of motorways - stopping along the way, and seeing more than a blur of roadside through the windscreen. 

So my Lake District break started with a scenic drive through the Peak District (above) and a stop for picnic lunch at Lyme just outside of Manchester.

We didn't have long, and have visited the house and garden on a previous occasion, so settled for a short walk around the pond by the sawmill before heading back on the road.

North of Manchester it's hard to avoid motorways but it is possible to take a break from them (and not a service area). We headed for Rufford Old Hall near Ormskirk, a lovely Tudor house now owned by the National Trust.

Our timings hadn't worked too well and we arrived just as everything was closing for the day, with just enough time for a walk round the gardens. 

To one side lie formal gardens, with a woodland walk beyond leading to the church. 

To the side a path leads through orchards now in full blossom, to a shrubbery with rhododendrons and bluebells. 

The Hall itself looks fascinating - a mix of ancient timbers and mellow brick - and I'd have loved to see inside and peer OUT of those tiny-paned windows. Something for another time. 

 

Two and a bit days in the Lake District

Grizedale

I'm aiming this year to get away for as many short breaks as possible, partly to make up for lost time and holiday opportunities due to Covid, and partly because it's easier to leave the garden and allotment for a few days each month than to take one fortnight long break in summer. So, having visited Hertfordshire in March, at the end of April we set off for the Lake District. 

Hawkshead

This isn't an area that's totally new to me but we tried to work out how long it is since our last visit - and, although we visited Appleby-in-Westmorland a couple of years ago, it's probably over 30 years since we went to heart of the Lake District.

Windermere

We stayed in the quiet village of Broughton Beck, away from the main tourist spots but good for visiting the lakes of  Windermere and Coniston, walking in Grizedale Forest and around Tarn Hows, as well as spending most of a day at Holker Hall, near Grange Over Sands.  

Coniston sunset

Coniston Water

Holker Hall

Short trips away are almost as much about the journey as the overnight stays, so on the way north we stopped at Lyme Park for a picnic lunch, then Rufford Old Hall to break, while on the way south (though only as far as Manchester to see my daughter) we visited Sizergh Hall and the new(ish) RHS Bridgewater garden in Salford. 

Sizergh Castle

It was an excellent time to pick, after the Easter holidays, with hardly anyone around, and none of the half-expected Lake District traffic and parking problems. I'll like to go back, to the more northern lakes which we didn't have time to visit, but that might have to wait till next Spring

RHS Bridgewater 

 

Back to Felley Priory - gardens

Admission to Felley Priory bluebell wood is included with garden entry, so after walking to the first we decided to visit the second - though not for long as it was late afternoon and almost closing time.

Things had moved on in the garden since our last visit a few weeks ago. Some of the early spring bulbs had finished flowering, and early magnolias been replaced by later ones, but this is a delightful place with something of interest for every month. 

Later varieties of daffodil were still in flower in the orchard

Blossom appearing everywhere

Gorgeous tulips opening in the sun.

 There is an immense feeling of calm in this beautiful garden, with views out over farmland, despite being in the centre of a former mining area. 

I just wish I'd been a little earlier in the day, to be able to take my time, sit in the sun, and relax.

 

Back to Felley Priory - Bluebells

It isn't long since we visited Felley Priory gardens, but at the end of April and beginning of May there's an extra treat in store there - a wood filled with glorious bluebells.

It's separate to the gardens and reaching it involves an uphill walk (which certainly appears to get steeper towards the end) but it's not the strenuous hike to Lea Bridge bluebells  and totally worth the effort.

As you walk up there's not really any hint of the sight that greets you - a carpet of bluebells interrupted only by trees through which the track leads in a figure of eight.

Breath-taking doesn't capture how wonderful this place is, and neither do my multitude of photographs, but hopefully they've captured a feel of it.

 

Happy Birthday to Me!

It's the time of year again for birthday celebrations and cake. After two lockdown-disrupted years, I was hoping everything would go ahead as planned this time, but it turned out Covid hasn't gone as far away as one would like. 

With my birthday falling close to Mothers Day this year, and two celebrations seeming excessive, we'd settled on the earlier date to coincide with my Manchester-based daughter playing a gig in Nottingham. Then my elder daughter's family came down with Covid.

So ..... one weekend I went out (very daringly, I think) to a gig - my first in two years, as I'm very much a wuss about catching Covid, but my younger daughter was playing, she was the first act and not much of a crowd was expected that early in the evening. As it turned out there were more people along than expected, but i survived and it was good to get out at last. I'm not sure I'll be hurrying to do it again though.

The next day we had cake, and visited Chatsworth gardens which had just opened for the season.

The next weekend we had balloons (my grandson believes all birthdays should have balloons) and more cake (with candles this time) at my elder daughter's. 

By comparison, my actual birthday was a quiet day. It rained which didn't help, but in the afternoon we went out for a short visit to Swan Lake. It's rather quiet there now, which I hope is due to the birds heading elsewhere to raise their young rather than bird flu which is in the area.

 Onward now to another year, hopefully filled with fun things. I feel my 65th year should be marked in some way so I'm making plans ...