The Lake District

Hi Everyone!

I'm currently in the Lake District in Cumbria, England. It's really beautiful up here, and everyday there is something new to see or do.

I arrived in Keswick last Tuesday and spent 3 nights there. Above is a photo taken from my hostel bedroom window! What an amazing sight to wake up to every morning.
This was the view towards Catbells (the peak opposite) from across Derwent Water. This photo was taken on the shore, just across the road from the driveway of the hostel. The hostel I stayed at was about a 5 minute drive out of Keswick, and this was the view every morning as I waited by the side of the road for the bus.
Here is Castlerigg Stone Circle. You will all be starting to think that I have a thing for neolithic sights. But really, if you're in the area, you can't not go and have a look. Right?
Some horses and sheep in a paddock (with dry stone-walls- a common sight in The Lake District). This was on my walk back to Keswick from Castlerigg.
Derwent Water. Until I went to the Cumbria Pencil Museum on the Tuesday, I had no idea that the famous Derwent Pencils came from here! Actually, the first pencils ever were made here (the marking properties of graphite were discovered by shepherds in the area).
Keswick Main Street. A lovely village.
Keswick main street.
Ashness Bridge. This is a dry-stone bridge just a short walk from my hostel (mostly uphill!).
On the Thursday, a caught the Keswick Launch (the boat) across the river to Hawes End. From this pier, I climbed up Catbell's.
The view on the climb up Catbell's.
Me on the Catbell's summit.
The view on the descent from the Catbell's summit.
There are some special sheep that are found mainly in Cumbria called Herdwick sheep. They are born with black fleece and white faces. As they get older, the fleece turns grey. This one was grazing in the front yard of the hostel.
This is a pub in Buttermere. It was the first Inn in the area.
The view up to Honister Slate Mine. This is actually very similar to the view that I had from my hostel window (I stayed for 2 nights at Honister Hause, the YHA in the area which is next door to the mine). Very different view from that in Derwent Water, but spectacular all the same.
Me on Saturday morning, ready for a tour of the slate mine.

These two sheep were having a good rub up against this rock. Do they get sheep ked in the UK?
View from near Seatoller, back toward Honister Pass.
This photo was taken of Grasmere (the Lake) on a walk from Grasmere (the village) towards Ambleside.

The Bridgehouse in Ambleside.
A compulsory visit for anyone to Grasmere: Sarah Nelson's Gingerbread House. Here they make really moorish Gingerbread according to a recipe hundreds of years old (the original recipe is kept in a bank vault in Ambleside!).
Yesterday I visited Dove Cottage and Rydal Mount, two houses in which Wordsworth lived for varying amounts of time during different periods in his life. This is Rydal Mount, his last home.
The weather was beautiful last week, perfect for going on long walks and climbing fells. Unfortunately the last two days have been very wet, and it has forced me into the cafés in search of hot chocolate!This is a photo of Butharlyp Howe, the hostel I am staying at in Grasmere. It is my last night here tonight (I've spent the last 2 nights here as well), but unfortunately tonight we have been invaded by school children!