I really appreciated all of your thoughtful comments on the previous post - thank you.
There is no turning the clock back. Now is the time for those of us living here to join together and help our country move forward
********
Nineteen freshwater lakes sparkle like strings of diamonds, some fringed by ancient deciduous trees, others wild moorland, or stonewalled fields cropped by sheep. A backdrop of gentle rolling hills and mountains whose azure shades change minute by minute throughout the day
Evening
The merry sounds of gurgling waters flowing over stones, chasing along becks and down waterfalls as it makes the journey from the mountain tops to the lakes
The weather can be fickle, but it is that very mercurial nature which makes it what it is - a verdant, lush beautiful landscape. A place beloved over the centuries by poets, painters, locals and visitors alike
Rhododendrons and Azaleas love the rich peaty ericaceous soil as does the pretty Meconopsis
The Himalayan blue poppy - not a true poppy - originates from the lush mountainous regions of south eastern Tibet and requires a damp sheltered position in order to perform and thrive happily
2 images courtesy hotel website
We stayed at this wonderful Victorian hotel the 'Lodore' overlooking Derwent Water. It serves magnificent food in splendid suroundings, gives courteous service, and
has the Lodore Falls within its grounds - the falls were eulogised by poets. They were also a great visitor attraction to guests at the hotel during the Victorian era
...dashing and flashing and splashing and clashing;
And so never ending, but always descending,
Sounds and motions forever and ever are blending
All at once and all o'er, with a mighty uproar,
And this way the water comes down at Lodore.
Robert Southey 1774 - 1843
As we watched the evening sun on the last evening sink behind the mountains, we decide we must return again soon
Evening
close encounters
We stayed at this wonderful Victorian hotel the 'Lodore' overlooking Derwent Water. It serves magnificent food in splendid suroundings, gives courteous service, and
...dashing and flashing and splashing and clashing;
And so never ending, but always descending,
Sounds and motions forever and ever are blending
All at once and all o'er, with a mighty uproar,
And this way the water comes down at Lodore.
Robert Southey 1774 - 1843
Although your politicians make a mess of your country, they can't change the beautiful countryside. It must have been a relief to be here in that magnificent situated hotel at the lake.
ReplyDeleteHow right you are - our countryside is above politics and it was a perfect time for us to escape.
DeleteThank you for that welcome respite. You are right of course, the only option we have is to move on. But I am still furious, a week later.
ReplyDeleteDear Jessica - I think that your fury still has a long time to run, especially judging by the daily Machiavellian shenanigans now taking place.
DeleteYour beautiful photos really bring the Lake District to life for me, Rosemary. I have never been there but I can see why it is so loved and famous. The hotel looks magnificent and the falls exquisite.
ReplyDeleteIt was the perfect getaway at the right time Patricia. The hotel exceeded our expectations - it was lovely
DeleteExcellent photographs. The English Lake District is a truly magical place and packs a great deal into a small area. Very different from any of Scotland's mountain areas as rain up there means bleak misery, often invisible surroundings and bugger all to do except feed the midges with your body.
ReplyDeleteLike most Scots I'm still recovering from England voting a Conservative Government in at the last election so what they do down there always amazes me :o)
The midges I don't like, but Scotland and its mountains I do. Isn't it interesting the way mountains differ so much in whatever part of the world you are in?
DeleteIt will be a big heartbreak for me if you leave us.
I have always dreamt of visiting the Lake District ... perhaps living there if all the stars were aligned in just the right way.
ReplyDeleteMy great grandmother was from this area of England, I think it is only right that I should at least stay there for a long visit :)
The photos are as usual breathtaking.
Dream on no more, come and visit. Even though we know the Lake District well, we are always discovering more.
DeleteHello dear Rosemary,
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful place the Lake district is.. as always your photos are stunning and show everything in detail.. I have a 1st cousin that has his beautiful home in the Lake district.. I have never been. Yet again, there are many places in Britain i have not visited.
I am happy to be blogging again. Maybe not as much... but now and then. I have missed so many of you.
sending you best wishes.. happy 1st of July and a good weekend. xx Val
Dear Val - what a great delight to see you back here again. It is lovely to hear from you, I had been concerned as to what might have happened to you. Do stay even though it might not be as much - take care♡
DeleteThank you dear Rosemary,
DeleteLife, sometimes just takes over.
I hope to post now and again.. to keep in touch.
Please can you tell me if I appear on your followers roll.!!
seems a lot of bloggers have gone.
xxxx val
You are right lots of my followers no longer post, but luckily some new ones have also come along.
DeleteYes, you appear on my followers roll - I have just checked. Will visit you tomorrow.
As always I am stunned by your photos. You live in such a beautiful country and your photos encapsul that. No use crying over spilled milk, everyone needs to work together to make the best possible future for the country. The run-up to the election showed one side of England, now maybe a better side can help shape the future.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your very kind comment - I am so pleased that you enjoyed seeing the photos. Onwards and upwards must be our mantra from now on.
DeleteThe Lakes is a favourite spot of ours. We used to walk there most weekends, up some peak or other. Derwent is one of the loveliest lakes, I think - looks like you've got a good shot of Catbells there - and did I spot the Langdales in an earlier picture? Wonderful photos anyway - glad you had a good time.
ReplyDeleteYes Mike, that is Langdale Pikes seen from many miles away at Low Wray, Ambleside - it was good to escape for a while.
DeleteI loved this area of the world, when I visited many years ago, Rosemary. Thanks for these lavish photos which brought a lot of it back. I remember going out on a boat on Lake Windermere and wishing I could have stayed in the Lake District for days and days and days. But a short trip was better than nothing. What a beautiful area. I still have a few gorgeous pix that I took way back when, with a small 35mm camera.
ReplyDelete'Onwards and upwards must be our mantra from now on.' For sure, Rosemary. I know all will be well, the English have survived a lot and they'll survive this.
Thanks for the encouraging comment Yvette - looking back over our long history we have survived tumultous times in the past and lived to tell the tale.
DeleteI am so pleased that you have visited the Lake District - it is somewhere that we go to often, but there are still many corners that we have yet to visit.
Wow - beautiful photos! I will certainly be subscribing to your blog!
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting Monica and for your kind comment - you are very welcome.
DeleteThe lake district is still on my wish list of places to go. I have always imagined visiting it in the autumn, but your pictures show that it is so lovely at this time of year too! It must have been wonderful place to escape and recover. Our path has taken an unexpected turn but whichever direction we take there hopefully will be new opportunities to try and make our country better for everyone.
ReplyDeleteSarah x
Dear Sarah - I have visited the Lake District during every season, and each is lovely. Hope you manage to make a trip soon, you will love it. The northern lakes are the quieter more remote ones, but generally it is best just to miss out the school holiday periods.
DeleteYes, we have to make the most of the situation and hope that everything will resolve itself satisfactorily. I thought that it migh be a close vote from comments on the TV but foolishly imagined that it would be the other way round.
Oh yes, Great Britain has survived even worse times - my parents gave their all, well almost, thankfully they weren't killed, during WW2 (both in the Royal Airforce) - all to save our beautiful country from those who were bent on destroying it even way back then.
ReplyDeleteNow I just pray we will remain strong through these new changes, both the British, and the Americans - we are tied together closely and we the people deserve better. The world has become a very sad place.
On a much happier subject - the Lake district and your recent visit there Rosemary. It truly is one of the loveliest areas of the UK and your beautiful photos prove it. What a gorgeous hotel - I recall Derwent Water when there a few years back - all the lakes and countryside were just so lovely, even on rainy days!
Go to my post today - your are a Winner my dear - Bob picked your name out of his safari hat, haha!!!
Congrats and hugs, Mary
Dear Mary - I enjoyed reading your positively uplifting comment this morning and this early morning looks lovely through the study window.
DeleteGlad Bob has his safari hat already, do you have one too?
Wonderful photos of the Lake District. When I have stayed there it has been with the Holiday Fellowship or as I believe it is now called HF. Very enjoyable but the Lodore Falls Hotel looks something else entirely.
ReplyDeleteDear Susan - the Lake District always charms, and the Lodore Hotel is a perfect stay, I can definitely recommend it.
DeleteDear Rosemary, So. So many beautiful photographs!
ReplyDeleteDear Gina - I am pleased that you enjoyed them - thank you
DeleteFresh and cool winds blow to my place. Thanks a lot.
ReplyDeleteYou are always welcome
DeleteOh so beautiful! Lovely pictures from a lovely place...what a nature!
ReplyDeleteAlways nice visiting your blog.
Love from Titti
Thank you so much Titti - I always enjoy having you visit here♡
DeleteHello, Rosemary, thank you for this fascinating photo-tour to the Lake district. Your photos made me feel like being immersed in that nature in person. The Lodore Hotel stands in such a nice location, which made me understand why you wanted to return soon. I like the blueness of the Himalayan blue poppies, so attractive.
ReplyDeleteI was so shocked, too. On this opportunity, I hope people of the whole world learn to discern right way despite the voices of political fear-mongers. Politicians can be liars by necessity. Hope American people will choose wisely the next president who can deal with the issues.
Yoko
Hello Yoko - The hotel was lovely - as we drove nearer along a tree lined road with the lake on one side and the mountains on the other our expectations grew, and it lived up to them.
DeleteThe blue Meconopsis is a lovely flower - I wish that I could grow it, but my soil conditions are completely wrong for it.
Gorgeous! How I loved my visit to the Lake District in May. Congratulations on winning the drawing on Mary's blog.
ReplyDeleteThank you - it seems that several people got it right, but I was the one who was drawn out of the safari hat. Thank you for your visit, do call again.
DeleteDearest Rosemary,
ReplyDeleteWhat a privilege for being able to stay and enjoy at this fabulous Lake District!
Happy weekend to you.
Mariette
Dear Mariette - we can there in about 4 - 5 hours so it is not too far. It is a great place to feel at one with nature, and enjoy its peace and tranquility.
DeleteIt sure is!
Delete♡
DeleteThe Lake District is a most special place ...
ReplyDeleteLoved looking at all your photo's, thank you
All the best Jan
I am glad that you enjoyed the photos Jan, thank you - the Lake District is always lovely to visit and we shall definitely return again.
DeleteDear Rosemary,
ReplyDeleteYour pictues are absolutely breathtaking and I just can't stop scrolling up and down. What a fantastic scenery and I understand why this place has attracted people of all sorts through the centuries. A magical place.
Take care sweet Rosemary and thank you for sharing your beautiful and magical places with us. Your blog is such a heartwarming place to visit.♥
Charlie
x
Dear Charlie - rather like your Gotland, the Lake District is somewhere that I return to time after time. It never fails to work its magic on me. It is always a joy and pleasure to see you here♡
DeleteSo beautiful photos, thank you, Rosemary! We've been to Windermere decades ago - unforgettable. And the blue poppy: I saw it in Edinburgh in Doctor Neil's garden, and fell instantly in love with that exceptional blue!
ReplyDeleteThe Meconopsis is very particular as to where it will grow - I have tried to grow it in my garden but sadly the conditions are not to its liking.
DeleteThe Lakes always seem so detached and remote, even though of course they are full of visitors for so much of the year. Beautiful photos, as usual, very cloudy and watery.....
ReplyDeleteWe were in the northern lakes where it is possible to feel very remote and with far less people around - best to skip the school holiday periods - we love it there
DeleteWhat a beautiful blue poppy! Or whatever it is. What an amazing landscape around that hotel!
ReplyDeleteSometimes they even get deep blue skies like you are familiar with but often those little clouds are bobbing around in the sky.
DeleteI have only been to the Lake District once and it rained the whole time. But there is no doubting that it is a very scenic place which is why it is full of tourists all the time but as least there is plenty of space to get away from the crowds should the need for a bit of solitude arise.
ReplyDeleteIt is best never to visit the Lakes during the school holidays - the northern and western lakes are more remote, very beautiful, and we usually have them almost to ourselves.
DeleteA lovely selection of photos from the beautiful Lakes. It does look so tranquil and wonderful for walking and relaxing - I wish I could go back tomorrow! It does look like the perfect place to escape the turmoil of national events.
ReplyDeleteIt was fortuitous timing as it happens, but of course the turmoil continues and will for along time I suspect.
DeleteThe lakes really are so beautiful aren't they! Wonderful to see your photos and remember my own memories!
ReplyDeleteLove it there Amy
DeleteLove the deer photo never seen one before!
ReplyDeleteIt is sweet isn't it?
DeleteSo really beautiful landscapes. I love the mountain in background and all this green color.
ReplyDeleteYour photos are super.
Hugs
It was lush almost like a jungle
DeleteThis is so wonderful Rosemary! Looks so peaceful and the place to recharge the batteries. You have an amazing country ❤
ReplyDeleteThe country I love, the politician at the moment I don't
DeleteForgot to say, that Himalayan poppy is so special. That colour! Never seen one in real life.
ReplyDeleteIt is very hard to grow Marian - the conditions have to be exactly right for it to germinate and flourish. I have tried a couple of times but given up on it now.
DeleteHow positively IDYLLIC!
ReplyDelete♡
DeleteThe Lake Country holds almost mythical status for so many of us - a place we've read about but not yet seen. Your photos are beautiful and capture all my imagining. I once grew Himalayan Blue Poppies with some success but haven't been able to do so in two subsequent gardens. They are very picky!
ReplyDeleteI have tried to grow the Meconopsis on several occasions but have now abandoned any more attempts. My soil, lack of moisture in the ground, and conditions generally are not liked by it at all.
Delete