Grange over Sands day 3

Hello. It was a lovely sunny morning on the last day of my hols. I did think about setting off back home after checking out of the hotel, but then thought, shame to waste a day, I'll go and have a little bimble. I walked along the coastal path towards town.

 The duck pond in the park was full of birds chattering away as they scavenged for food. The little girl was quite overwhelmed by them all as they came close to her.

I strolled around the gardens and saw this wonderful tree, isn't it gorgeous. It's a Metasequoia glyptostorboides, or a Dawn Redwood if you want an easy name, quite a rare tree in the UK apparently. Read about it here.  I stopped to chat with the man seen in the picture, who was sketching the trunk. He is an artist and lives in a cottage just across the road from it. 

 I set off up Windermere Road road looking for a footpath to take me into Eggerslack Wood, and caught up with three people and their dog going in the same direction. I went ahead of them for a few minutes then came to a junction where several paths met and wasn't sure which one to take. Luckily the walkers caught me up and pointed me in the right direction. From then on I went ahead and stopped for a minute, and they caught me up again. It was handy having someone with local knowledge to chat to, we ended up getting to the top together.

Almost there, keep going.

Just over the top of that last rock on the horizon.

And this is what you find when you arrive at the top of Hampsfell. The Hospice was built in 1846 as a shelter for travelers. There are some pictures of it on this site. And some more here. 

On the top of the tower in the middle is a dial, the arrow can be pointed in any direction and the corresponding numbers can be seen on this list to indicate whereabouts all the places are.

Some of the views from the top. A little bit hazy in the distance.

Time to set off back down, my new walking buddies are going for lunch, and I have to get back to the car still in the hotel car park. That's Archie the dog by the way, he is lovely. We parted company ten minutes later and I followed a track past High farm, Spring Bank, and Grange Fell, down to the road.

My holiday was over and all I had to do was drive back. I was a bit sad to leave, it's a really nice area, with nice people, everyone was so friendly. I sent a text to Janet when I stopped for a break at Harrogate, giving her the eta of 7.30pm. And I was dead right, 7.30pm it was. The kitties were pleased to see me.

I took three of my pictures to the Arts Centre today. Judging takes place tomorrow to choose the ones for the Open Exhibition. Keep your fingers crossed, I hope they pick mine.

Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

Grange over Sands day 2

Grange over Sands day 2

Hello my little bloggerettes. Glad you like the pictures yesterday of day 1, here are some more. I decided to follow the Cumbrian Coastal Way path in the other direction and head south. The path is well marked on the map, so turn left out of the hotel along the road, onto a minor road and left down a track. So far so good, until I came to a shed with a sign on it with an arrow to follow the path to the right into a field. I had a look and found several cows in the corner of the field just the other side of the stile, knee deep almost in mud. I didn't fancy that much, the cows were not the problem but I didn't want to sink into ankle deep stinky slurry. I backtracked a bit and found an alternative route that joined up with the Coastal Way further along. It went over a railway line and along two straight stretches of road skirting round an old airfield. 

I eventually arrived at the entrance to the Lakeland Leisure Park, at this point the path takes a sharp right turn and goes across an embankment next to the marshes.  

I marched on into a headwind, with the marshes on my left and the sand and water a long way into the distance. Boy was it windy, I began to think I was a bit crazy. After the straight bit it goes around some bends. After Cowpren Point there are some farm buildings on the right with a wide gate giving access to the shore. I don't know if the farmer is allowed to dump piles of rubble and wood here, it was a bit unsightly. Pity I wasn't in my car, there were some nice pieces of timber and slate to scavenge. Not a place I could drive to without trespassing on private land.

Hey, look what I found. Anyone from Llandudno want a piece of the pier sign? Well here it is, I left it there. It's amazing how far rubbish can travel in the sea. As the crow flies it's 65 miles from Lanndudno to here.

These trailers look like they have some kind of fishing equipment on them, nets, floats, and rope. Maybe it's what the cockle pickers use. No doubt someone will be able to tell me.

The wind was getting a bit too much at this point, and I was fed up of scrambling over large stones, so I turned inland at Sand Gate and arrived at Flookburgh. Lovely name that. 

After a sit down on the bench in the centre of the car park, I followed the road to Cark. A bit further up the road I entered the gates of Holker Hall. Nope, I am not paying to go into the gardens and hall, I will see if I can get some free pics.

Free to go into the cafe and shop. Nobody sitting in the courtyard.

Don't need any food, just had a bite to eat from my rucksack, and had a big breakfast, that's enough to keep me going.

There were a few paying visitors about. Need a ticket to go through the gate on the left of the box.

I skirted around the outside of the fence, looking for some nice views.

Found another gate, no one about so I nipped in rather sharpishly.

Thought I had better not stay too long, get some snaps and skidaddle.

Off I went, picked up the Cistercian Way which joined up with the Cumbrian Coastal Path, through some woods, and along the road to Cartmel. Once again I passed the Racecourse.

And took this snap of a very nice shop. I couldn't get it before because of the big four wheel drive vehicles parked in front of it. One thing I have noticed in this neck of the woods is the large numbers of 65 and 66 plate, and personal number plate, expensive cars around here. Hardly any old bangers. Must be quite a wealthy area.

From Cartmel I took the road past Hesketh Wood, High Fell Gate, and Middle Fell Gate, towards Kent Bank. As soon as I got onto Allithwaite Road I saw this magnificent building. Isn't it just amazing. It is Cartmel Grange, a private residential nursing home built in 1914, as a convalescent home for miners. Read all about it here.   I would love to look around inside, and as it is a listed building I think a lot of the original features are still there. 

From there it was a 20 minute walk back to the hotel. Once again, a lovely meal was served. The food was perfectly cooked, could not fault it at all. After dinner I sat in the lounge busy on the computer, and entertainment was organised for anyone who wanted to join in.

14 miles walked today, the boots are great, only one tiny blister which I ignored. Come back tomorrow for day 3. Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip.

Grange over Sands day 1

Hello Good Morning. I've a bit of catching up to do, and today I must take three pieces of artwork to the Arts Centre, in the hope that they are chosen for the Open Exhibition. Best get on with it then.

I had a late start on Tuesday morning, after first having a blood sample taken at the surgery for my free health check. As I hadn't been able to eat or drink anything for the previous twelve hours, breakfast was a priority. Then a bit of faffing, and I was finally on my way across the country to Cumbria. 

The journey took longer than I thought it would, the first bit was motorway which wasn't too bad, but from then on across Harrogate and heading over the Yorkshire Dales, it was a bit steady following farm traffic and lorries up and down the hills. I kept going for as long as I could but then nature was telling me to stop for a comfort break. I pulled into Kirkby in Lonsdale, and immediately recognized that I had been there before on my bus pass holiday. Booths supermarket has some very nice toilets there. 

I got to Grange over Sands late afternoon, it was too early to go to the hotel, so I parked in the town centre and had a look round. A nice little seaside resort with a long promenade, no sandy beaches, need a pair of binoculars to see the sea, duck pond, parks and gardens, with small independent shops. 

No, this is not my hotel, ha ha. I'll post pictures of that later.  Bug hotel in the park. Click on a picture for full screen. 

I checked in at 5.30pm, my room was a single ensuite, TV, and drinks making facilities. Lovely and warm with clean white crisp bedding. Dinner was served at 6.30pm where I was invited to join a group of people on a large table. Everyone was friendly and welcoming. The food was delicious, three courses, and I'm afraid I ate too much and suffered a bit with a full tum.

Next morning there was tons to eat at breakfast, very similar to what they serve at hostels but with more variety. I had cereals, egg, hash brown, beans, mushrooms, and toast. Set me up for the day.

I had a few ideas for a walking route so off I went. The Abbot Hall Hotel is right at the far end of Grange, next to Kent Bank railway station., there is a track which runs alongside the track at the back of the houses. The weather was a bit overcast, but fresh and dry. Love the Autumn leaves.

A bit further along it opens out onto the Promenade. There are some parks and gardens, a cafe, and leisure activities, bowls and a putting green.

The following few photo's are of big posh hotels. Grange is set on a hillside and these prominent buildings look very spectacular nestled in amongst the trees. I was cheeky enough to walk up the driveways to get a few close shots. I had checked out some of them whilst looking for a place to stay and thought, no way am I paying that. The buildings are very beautiful though, nice to look at, and dream. 

Wouldn't you just love to stay here. Fabulous gardens.

After a bimble around the hotel grounds I set off on my walk. This picture below is the the same hotel as above, only from a distance. Massive isn't it. 

I followed the Cumbrian Coastal Way along the river, which was by now just a trickle through a wide expanse of sand. Inland across some fields toward Lindale. 

A cute little village, with a shop and a church.

Sometimes looking for a footpath can be a bit baffling, there appears to be no sign of one even though it is marked on the map. I came off a road and found a sign post, the path looked like it was impassible, then just round the bend, aha, that's how you cross the brook, a hidden stone bridge. 

Time to go onto the fells. Now which way?

Back down onto the road, there are lots of these mirrors placed strategically opposite hidden entrances to big posh houses. Time for a fun selfie.

I went on and off tracks and roads, and arrived at Cartmel. A lovely little Lakes town, busy with cars, even though there is a big car park at the Racecourse. This is Cartmel Priory. I went in for a few minutes of contemplation.

Sheep are keeping the grass trimmed between the grave stones. 

Pub in Cartmel. Outdoor heating, there is a gas flame in that contraption. Nobody sitting outside, they could turn it off to save energy.

Stone cottages, and little shops.

After Cartmel I was on the last section of the walk. I followed the Cistercian Way to the outskirts of Cark, then took the road to Allithwaite, and picked up the Cumbrian Coastal Way back to the hotel. It was getting a bit windy so I kept moving and didn't take any more photo's.

Arriving back in the hotel at 6pm, I had half an hour to get ready for dinner served at 6.30pm. After the meal there was some kind of entertainment but I chose to sit in the lounge uploading these photographs in readiness to add the words. Total walked today was 15 miles. I am well pleased with that. I chatted to people, saw nice places, and got some exercise. A great day.

Right, busy now, need to get the pictures to the Arts Centre, so I'll say, enjoy your Saturday and we'll catch up tomorrow with the second report.
toodle pip