Having just spent a week in Rydal, the beautiful area between Ambleside and Grasmere, synonymous with the poet William Wordsworth, it’s easy to understand how the sheer unspoilt beauty of the place inspired him. Every which way you look your senses are assaulted by hills, lakes, rivers, waterfalls and forests, and the ever changing weather makes it all the more atmospheric.
The Lakes are always wet, but this time around the weather surpassed itself. To say it was wet would be an understatement. It POURED down every day, and everywhere we walked we came across water, seeping, trickling and dripping. Hundreds of mini- riverlets ran down, across, over, under and around the landscape trying to carve out new paths. Sometimes we were walking through three or four inches of water, our trainers were permanently soaked!
And day by day the running, splashing, roaring, thundering rivers and waterfalls grew in size and strength. Each night all we could hear was the sound of roaring water, a great way to be lulled to sleep.
Many brooks and streams burst their banks and all the paths were slippy and deadly. Coming down sheer paths in the forests and hills became a little treacherous, especially with young dogs pulling on their leads. And soggy sandwiches eaten in torrential rain are not at all enjoyable!!! Not at all…..but in torrential rain the Lakes are even more awesome than they are in sunshine…..well, to me anyway!
Often while walking high in the hills sudden mists would descend, leaving us almost blind. It can become a little scary, especially if the walk is unfamiliar!
One day we were walking around Rydal water and suddenly found that the path had completely disappeared. It was now submerged under a foot or two of water so we had to indulge in a little unexpected rock climbing….REALLY precarious that was. We had a dog each [neither of which intended on co-operating of course] and were scaling slippy rocks with no real foothold a little like spiderman. I must say I’m AMAZED neither of us ended up in the lake…..sheer luck!!! Hubs was much worse at it than me and nearly fell in as he slipped right to the water’s edge!
So after being drenched to within an inch of our lives, Hubs and I have finally decided to get the correct, posh, EXPENSIVE kit. That means forking out a hundred quid just for a pair of waterproof strides!!! Our current kit has proved itself to be useless in these sort of weather conditions….at least the posh stuff lasts years…….or it’s supposed to anyway.
This is how the mist would suddenly drop…..then get thicker and thicker…..
And finally….proof that even the stone walls turned into waterfalls!
Nothing lasts forever… though some illusions give us that impression…
Ah yes….very true!!! You get that in the Lakes, ever changing….xxx
These pictures are AMAZING!! I wish I’d of been there – although perhaps not when the mist began to drop! xx
Thanks Scarlett, it is REALLY spooky in the mist, all the paths disappear and you feel as though you are going to drop off a ledge or something and torches are useless.xxxxx
So beautiful! How I wish we had rain and abundant water!
Thanks Catherine. It must be difficult having little rain, this year we’ve had too much, the crops are water-looged. There never seems to be a happy medium.xxx
Those pictures are very ominous, I do enjoy the dramatic, but these days it tends to be from the comfort of my armchair.
Thanks Dessie, I think we’ll enjoy the wet weather a lot more once we get the right kit! xxxxx
I reckon that Wordsworth wrote that on a sunny day.
You really do need the right gear for there, especially footwear and waterproofs. I’ve been there twice, apart from just passing through, and the contrast couldn’t have been greater. xx
Lol….yes I’m quite sure that was written in better weather! Everyone seems to get the good weather but us. Having said that, I do love how atmospheric everything looks in the mist and rain, and the roaring of swollen rivers and waterfalls is fantastic.xxxxx
Hi – just come over from Flighty’s plot. Your post reminded me of the one and only time I went to the Lake District. It rained every day for me as well. Our car didn’t like it either – we had to call the AA out every morning before we could go anywhere. Never been back since.
Hi Elaine, Yes the Lakes are renown for the endless rain. I often wonder where all that water goes!!!
We don’t drive there, as you say the weather isn’t much good for cars! xxx
Loving the pics….was in the Lakes in July, and it rained then. Great narative ….poetry in motion is how I describe the pictures you have taken. x
Ahhh….thanks. I remember you going Karen, I was all jealous at the time!!! Maybe we could meet up there sometime by co-ordinating our lake hols …..that’s a nice thought!!!xxxxx
I HEREBY say “WoooooooooooooooooW”. Amazing. That green eyed monster is poking me incessantly. I want to go THERE, mum, dad, No one’s coming? !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! xxx
Lol….it is GORGEOUS there. If you ever move to Europe you must come and visit when we are there!!! Better bring your wellies and waterproofs though!!!! xxxxxxx
Excellent pictures….Triggered wonderful memories for me…I loved the area…..Ever changing….;)xx
Thanks Ell….it is a stunningly beautiful area isn’t it/ I’d love a place there but the prices are crazy!xxxxx
I remember walking round Rydalwater and Grasmere some years ago … but it was sunny!! You’ve got some sensational pix here Snowbird – they capture the eerie magic of the Lakes. Have you ever read the Herries novels which are set in the Lakes?
Hope you’ve dried out by now 😉
Thanks Gilly. No I haven’t read those novels, but I will now. I feel a trip to the library coming on.
We’ve finally dried all the coats and trainers!xxxxx
Brrrrrrrrr …… that made me shiver!!!!
New waterproofs are definitely a must!!!
Lol…..I did a fair bit of shivering while I was there too1 Yes, I’ll deffo get the right kit before I go back in April.xxxxx