Ambling Round Ambleside

Lots of photographs today because the Lake District is beautiful and I have too many I want to share! The day after our climb up Silver How we went to Ambleside, at the top end of Lake Windermere. We decided were were more in the mood for a gentle amble than something strenuous, so we bought and downloaded a Treasure Trail.  We have done a few of these trails over the last few years. They set out a route around a particular location, with various clues to solve as you go and we thought they would be fun for TG, but she never really took to them. However, M and I found them a good way to explore as they point us at things we would never otherwise spot - the website says they are suitable for ages 6 to 106, so why not! 

The first section of the trail took us across a field and down to the river, then back up through a park where one of the clues related to this stone sculpture standing in a stone circle, which had been created by young artists in 2000. 

The next set of clues took us to the area round the church and included one which took us to the grave of Charlotte Mason. When we used to homeschool I loved her gentle, literature based approach to education. She founded a training college in Ambleside to educate teachers in her method. The college still exists and is now a campus of the University of Cumbria, although it no longer trains teachers. 

 

The next section was around the central part of Ambleside, with a break for lunch. We spotted a Greggs, and as I have a minor obsession with their vegan steak bakes, we bought lunch there and sat in a park to eat it. Having promised M that our walk would not involve climbing, we then discovered that Ambleside had a higher part of town with a very steep set of steps up to it. At least there was a good view once we got there!  

The trail suggested an optional diversion to Stock Ghyll waterfalls, which we thought sounded worth exploring. There were more steps. In fact, there were quite a lot more steps! 

 

We made it up to the falls. This was the upper section, with a bridge across the top so that we could circle round and come back down the other side of the ghyll. 

Back at the bottom there was another wider, but shallower fall. The falls and the beech woods round them were quite popular and busy, even on a fairly dull October day. I imagine that during the summer there would have been a horde of people there. 

Ambleside's famous bridge house, now owned by the National Trust, provided the final clue.  The trail itself took about an hour and a half to two hours. With an extra hour to visit the falls, our lunch stop and a visit to a chocolate shop for treats to bring home for the girls (there may also have been treats for ourselves!) we spent about four hours in Ambleside. 

Ambleside is about an hour away from our hotel, but quite a bit of the drive has gorgeous mountain and lake views. It is also on pretty good roads - no narrow or steep Lakeland lanes which can be a bit stressful. It is an interesting area to drive in an electric car, as you can see hills visibly draining the battery, only to sail along for miles without using any power on the way back down thanks to the regenerative energy system. Every time we go there I remember that the Lakes are one of my very favourite places. I hope it won't be too long before we are able to go back.