The bald fells (why do English hills and mountains have no trees? Very strange for a Yankee from Penn's woods) and deep valleys envelop you as you enter the Lakes, a land of green valleys, deep lakes (called 'meres') and rocky crags. The Romans enjoyed the area so much they built two forts here, including one at a site called Hardknott that would certainly be a 'hardluck' post for the poor plebe stationed there. Approaching this fort was no easy feat as the roads were at about a 30-40 degree incline in some places and very narrow! Not a great place to meet a Tesco's lorry.
Cora finishes the climb high above Hardknott Roman Fort. What a climber!
Castles, stone circles and mountain clothing and equipment sales awaited us in other areas of the Lakes as we toured Windmere, Keswick (Kesick if you speak 'English') and Penrith. And we just about saw them all, execpt for a few maddening sites far off in southern Cumbria.
One of the best days was spent in Keswick where we saw an impressive stone circle (Castelrigg), rowed a boat on the lake, sorry, mere, and visited the world's biggest pencil factory! Oh control your excitement!
Out on the mere in a rowboat. Now if we were both rowing the the right direction we may have gone somewhere.
Yes, the last day we did visit Beatrix Potter's home at Hilltop. Finding a parking space was a pain (there were about 5 for 100 cars) but we made it. The house is small and unassuming but veru quaint. Elizabeth certainly thought it was worth the trip. We could see why she wanted to retire to this place - surrounded by beautiful, unspoiled countryside.
The girls in the garden of Peter Rabbit and his friends. Oh watch out for that mini cooper on the road!
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