Off to the Lakes, and beyond. - Sunday 2-7-23
Sunday we packed up the van and headed off to the Lake District. The weather was sunny as we said our goodbyes and headed toward the M4 for the long journey North.
Joining the M5 and then the M6 all seemed fine until we started to encounter signs indicating a 2 hour delay further up. Later still, signs indicated the motorway was closed for 3 junctions after junction 27 or 28. Having no idea where these were, we decided to stop and search for a better route.
Unfortunately, when we stopped at the next services, the better route would have been to get off before then. What ensued was a 3 hour nose to tail crawl through Preston with a million other unfortunates. We finally arrived at our campsite at about 7:30 pm. Still, it was not raining.
Though not raining here, it always is somewhere in The Lakes, and we were treated to a fine rainbow upon our arrival.
The campsite was peaceful and quiet set among the mountains just off the Kirkstone Pass. With a pub on site, we popped in for a few pints and a bite to eat before getting an early night.
We spent the Monday at the campsite, as I had to work, taking advantage of the wifi, while the other half took advantage of the laundry facillities.
The following day we drove up past Ullswater to the Aira Force Waterfall. Parking at the National Trust carpark, we took a walk through the woods up to the falls.
We spent the afternoon wandering around the town of Keswick then headed down past Thirlmere and Helvellyn, through Grassmere on the scenic route back to the campsite.
The next day took us back to the M6 and up to Carlisle. We stopped the night at a great pub parkup, The Stag at Crosby in Eden, and spent a pleasant few hours sinking some excellent ale and chatting to the landlord. Hearing about our plans to head off for the NC500 he told us to look out for this converted bus, which was doing the same route. They had stopped here the night about a week before us.
Should be hard to miss, but having seen some of the roads, and bends, I don't think I would like to be driving it.