GollyGeeGosh

Sunday, 17 September 2017

Keswick - Bank Tavern Pub and Restaurant

The Keswick Bank Tavern pub and restaurant is a local destination so we stopped in for drinks and supper.

My wife had a flight of beers while I had a cider.

We both had the lamb with spices stew which was tasty.

Keswick - Market Day

Thursday and Saturday is market day in Keswick. It is highly recommended as it has lots of variety and many local products.

Lake District Drive with Show Me Cumbria - Part 3

This is a continuation of our drive with Andy and Show Me Cumbria.

A picture from the van.

This is Kirkstone pass, a wonderfully evocative place. This is the view looking North.

There the Kirkstone Pass Inn at this site. Andy told us stories of helping his frend, who owned this establishment, serve and cook for patrons.

The view South at the pass.

There was a little stream off to the side as well.

We passed by other small towns on the way back to Keswick.

The entire drive was enjoyable and informative. Andy can also tailor your drive depending on interests. Highly recommended.

Lake District Drive with Show Me Cumbria - Part 2

The continuation of our Lake District drive by Andy of "Show Me Cumbria".

This is Wray Castle, where Beatrix Potter spent a summer here and met Cardinal Hardwicke Rawnsley, who started the National Trust. It inspired her to purchase land for conservation. The castle was built to impress in 1840 as it still does to this day.

The grounds are also magnificent.

We stopped in Hawkshead that had an impressive small church.

It also had this shop, the Honeypot, that had lots of nice foods and meat pasties. They were a delicious takeaway.

We then took the ferry from the West side of Windermere to the East side.

There we stopped by the waterfront of Bowness-on-Windermere which was dreadfully full of tourists...and swans and ducks.

Lake District Drive with Show Me Cumbria - Part 1

My wife wanted to have a couple hour tour around the best parts of the Lake district. It was fortunate that Andy, at Show Me Cumbria, was available this day and take us around. He was a great gent and was very informative on the history of the Lake district. His personal life was also of great interest and enhanced the tour. Without having a car or local knowledge, this was a great experience.

First destination was Surprise View.

It was a great lookout point.

Ashness bridge is one of the most photographed bridges and would have been a very long walk from Keswick.

This is near Helvelyn peak. It has the remnants of slate mining.

Sarah Nelson's Grasmere Gingerbread is a Lake Country delicacy with the best tasting gingerbread I had ever tried. There is apparently always a lineup during tourist season.

St Oswald's Church in Grasmere is stucco on the outside but on the inside is incredible. The Anglican church dates from the 14th century and is active.

William Wordsworth is buried in the church grounds with his immediate family. His writings on the Lake District encouraged others to visit this special area of Britain.

Keswick - Lakeland Spice Cuisine

The Lakeland Spice Cuisine restaurant is a nice Indian restaurant in Keswick.

We started with Indian beers!

We started with thin crispy naan with various condamints.

Then some pakoras.

Then some curry!

Then some lamb braised and some spicy rice.

For a dessert we had coconut naan.

Castlerigg Stone Circles

The Castlerigg stone circles are one of around 1300 stone circles in the British islands and France. They were created between 3300 to 900 BCE. The Castlerigg site was built around 3000 BCE and the reason for its use is unknown. It is currently theorized that it was used as a gathering place and for trading for axe heads. It is also regarded as one of the most picturesque stone circles and I quite agree. A short walk East from Keswick will take you here.

People have been coming here as tourists since the Lake district was popularized. Some people even came and chipped off a piece of the circle to take home! Not allowed anymore.