Ambleside Camping

By the large Cairn on Black Crag

We have had this booked for a while, one of our friends dad signed up to do the ‘Great North Swim’ in Lake Windermere. It’s an open water swim over a 1 mile course. It was a good excuse to have a weekend away in the Lake District.

Friends booked us into Skelwith Fold Caravan Park on the outskirts of Ambleside. Set off after work on Friday and made good progress up to the camp site. Setup camp and had a quiet evening on site.

Out and About

Saturday morning and we decided to go for a walk, I wanted to do the Fairfield Horseshoe, but the weather wasn't  good enough so we decided to walk up onto Black Crag, this was a far shorter and easier walk, so the kids were happy! We walked in the lanes before heading on the Bridleway which goes past Black Crag, it was a straight forward walk and we were soon at the top. Although it was cloudy we still had great views, we ate the sandwiches that Andrea had made and I took some photos. It was a bit windy and the kids started to complain that they were cold so we headed back to the camp site.

Our friends arrived on site just after we got back, so we caught up and decided to head into Ambleside for a look around. We’d brought the bikes so it made sense to use them. Luckily there is an off-road track adjacent to the B5286, this was useful as the road is narrow and there are several blind bends. We had to be careful as we entered Ambleside, the one way system doesn't help!

Black Crag

After having a drink we decided to get everything needed for a BBQ and headed back to the camp site, we used the quieter back road ‘Bog Lane’ into the site. The weather had improved as the day went on and we enjoyed eating Al fresco, however as the evening progressed the midges came out and forced us into our motor homes!

Sunday and we got on our bikes again and headed through Ambleside and long the shore of Windermere to Low Wood Marina. Catching up with Tom who was doing the swim and Vicky is increasingly nervous wife! Several of the family had also come along to see how he would get on. There was hundreds of people doing the swim, every half hour another wave of swimmers set off. It was soon time for Tom’s race, off he went and we watched as the swimmers left the jetty and headed into deep water. It took Tom a long while to swim the course but eventually to everyone’s relief we spotted him heading towards the finish. It took him just under 1:30 hours to do the swim, he’s 70 years old, we didn't see anyone near his age doing it so it was a pretty good achievement.

Ice Cream at Kirkby Lonsdale

We headed back to the camp site and got changed before going out for a meal at ‘Lucy’s On A Plate’. The food was brilliant and nothing went to waste. Headed back to the camp site for a few beers before bed.

Monday morning, we used the BBQ to make sausage and bacon sandwiches before packing up and heading homeward. We stopped at Kirkby Lonsdale for an Ice cream before arriving home mid-afternoon.

A good weekend, the kids got Monday off school so they were happy. The weather had been good and the camp site brilliant. We’ll be visiting Skelwith Fold Caravan Site again, it’s a great place to use as a base for some great walks!

Keswick Camping - Cat Bells Walk

On Top of Cat Bells

The second day in Keswick and the weather was still really good. We decided to head up Cat Bells. First off we headed to the ferry on Derwent water and crossed to Hawes End. The boat ride took the long way around the lake, it was a really enjoyable crossing, the views are brilliant. Toddy the dog wasn't too keen and was happy to be back on dry land.

The path heads straight away from the lake edge and starts climbing. Very soon we were above the tree line and making good progress. The kids were happy to forge ahead, they were soon heading towards what they thought was the top. They were disappointed when reaching the false summit. We caught up and started heading along the broad ridge. The wind started picking up and it was becoming noticeably cooler, but the top was now in site!

Heading up the lady steep part the kids had to be reigned in as they kept hearing towards the step edges.  Both Finlay and Jack really enjoyed climbing up the last few rocks. This walk had got to be the easiest walk for the best view.

View back to Keswick

On top we stopped, found somewhere out of the wind and had the picnic that Andrea had made. The kids soon got board and quickly made a grass slide! Andrea sand me were happy to admire the view, looking a across the lake, we also had a good view back towards the camp site and Keswick.  Occasionally we jest hearing and seeing RAF planes screaming at low level through the valleys.

It was time to move on, we continued over the top as and headed down back towards the south of the lake, we headed towards High Brandelhow. Andrea had a bit of a fidget when we got near the lake edge, she was convinced that we weren't using a path as we headed down the edge of a wall.

Finlay in a Tree

On the pier where the boat comes in we had a rest, lots of people started arriving, like us waiting for the boat. The kids climbed trees while we waited. We made sure that we got our places in the queue for the board. We've had bad experiences with full boats in the past and wanted to make sure of our places back to Keswick. Sure enough there wasn't room for everyone, but we got on!

Back in Keswick we headed into town for a look around the shops. For tea we had a Chinese takeaway. After a good nights sleep it was time to head home, we went down through the lake district avoiding the M6, arriving home mid afternoon.

We'd been really lucky with the weather, both the bike ride and the walk were good family fun! Shame we had to come home!

Keswick Camping - Whinlatter Mountain Biking

Looking down Derwent Water from the Camp Site

The weather has been really poor so far this year and we've done very little due to all the snow and cold. Half term for the kids and our first run out with the van. We always seem to head for Keswick and this year we were very lucky with beautiful clear weather letting us get out and about.

We headed up to Keswick early on Saturday, stopping  at Kirby Lonsdale for a bacon sandwich and a nosey at the bikes in the lay by. Making good time on the M6 we soon arrived at the campsite. Lots of building work was taking place, the site was having quite an upgrade with lots of new hard standing pitches under construction.

I took the dog for a walk and enjoyed what I consider to be one of the best views in Britain, Derwent water with Catbells in the background, amazing!

The kids had been given money to spend from our mums and dad so we headed straight into town and into the toy shop. Lego bionicles were the order of the day. We ate out  at LB's pizza restaurant, we all really enjoyed it and it was good value for money.

Finlay - Lazy Boy!

Sunday morning and we decided to spend the day on our mountain bikes. On the maps it didn't look too bad a ride from the camp site to the Whinlatter visitors centre as and the off road mountain bike routes! The first part of the ride over to Braithwaite, from here the road rises steeply and Finlay threw a strop, he couldn't peddle up the pass. Andrea let him sit on her bike while she pushed the bike. I took Finlays bike and pushed both bikes up the pass.

It took a while and the traffic on the narrow road was challenging. Jack had no trouble, and peddled up the pass easily! 

Once up the pass it was a short  ride to the visitors centre. We decided to have an early lunch at the cafe, the kids were happy for the break and we had a pot of tea and a sandwich. There are a couple of routes the red route for experienced riders and a blue route for intermediate riders, this was or route. 

Ice Cream Treat!

We rattled off down the track, Finlay really enjoyed the first part of the route, he does like going down hills! The route was pretty good and we made okay time, the circular route took us about 40 minutes. Back at the visitors centre the kids spent some time in the play area. 

Me and Jack decided to go back round the route and we set off as fast add wert could, we made good time and did the whole route in about 15 minutes!

Another pot of tea and we set off back to the camp site, the kids enjoyed descending the pass, we were soon back at the camp site. In all me and Jack did about 16 miles, Findlay and Andrea did about 13 miles.

We'd had a great day and the weather was great, we all slept well after the busy day!

Keswick Camping

Panorama

It had been very cold for over a week before we set off to Keswick. We hadn't used the van for several months, I'm always concerned that something will not work after such a long layup. We stopped at Morrisons in Kendel to get some food and have some lunch.