Wet, wet, wet

The forecast was for rain. The forecast was right. It was very wet and the clouds were hovering low enough to cover the higher roads.

Urban-Cub was a little better today so she and Pistol Pete took Ellie out in the car. The Gorse Fox and the Silver Vixen also headed out. Our plan was to see the glories of Windermere by driving down the east bank and then looping back up the west bank. Fat chance! Don’t misunderstand… the route worked and the Gorse Fox was perfectly happy driving it. The problem was that there was nothing to see in the rain and mist.

We stopped at Hawkshead on the western side of the lake. It was the highlight of the day. It was a charming little village reminiscent of places like Polperro. It started from the architecture vernacular by having white rendered cottages instead of the drab stone that seems to feature everywhere else.
We started with a wander round the Hawkshead outlet store. This specialised in outdoor clothing and finally we found the jacket that the Silver Vixen has been seeking. Better still it was half price. We moved on and zigged and zagged round the village looking in one shop and then the next. We also stopped in at the Red Lion for a lunchtime coffee and snack. The Gorse Fox was very taken with Hawkshead and thinks it the nicest of all the places we have visited on this trip.

From Hawkshead we set off for Grasmere. By the time we arrived it was pouring with rain again. We pottered round and stopped here and there. It was clearly very popular with tourists and, despite the weather, quite overrun. Finally we gave up and returned to the car and headed back to the cottage.