Holiday - Lake District - Day 2 - Lake Windemere Kayaking and Walk to Stock Ghyll Force

Lake District Holiday

Sunday 24th June 2018

We woke up this morning to glorious sunshine.  

We decided to go for a paddle on Lake Windemere.  There is a launch point in Ambleside.  We got everything ready and set off towards Windemere.

After about 3 miles we decided to stop for some lunch.  We found a nice spot where a stream joined into the lake.

After lunch we decided do a short paddle and do a little walk later on. When we set off again we decided to cross the lake and make our way back up the other side.  It was a lovely paddle with the mountains in the view.

Back on the beach we dried off the kayak and had an ice cream while the sun dried the rest of it off!

Back at the apartment we got cleaned up, had a rest and decided on where we were going to go for our walk.  There is a waterfall in the valley up behind where we are staying.  

After the waterfall we continued to follow the stream into Ambleside.  We had a little wander around to see what shops there are there and then headed back to the apartment.  We made some dinner and then watched a film with out feet up!

Tomorrow we are planning on walking up Scafell Pike!

Holiday - Lake District - Day 1 - Driving to Ambleside

Lake District Holiday

Saturday 23rd June 2018

First task of today was to work out how this lot was going to fit in my car!  Tim was trying to work out what we could leave behind if it didn't all go in!

Thankfully it did all go in and we were on our way a little after 10am.  We had to call in at West Coker first to drop Doughnut Bunny off at his holiday destination.  We had a long journey ahead of us.

After a stop for some lunch and another brief stop to stretch legs and swap over driving again we arrived at out destination around 18.00.
The apartment in Ambleside is very nice.

After unpacking the car we went to Windemere to Booths to do some shopping.  Back to the apartment for dinner and then we put our feet up on the reclining sofa for a restful evening!

Tomorrow we are planning to have a paddle.

Holiday - Northumberland and North Wales - Day 17 - Drive home

Northumberland and North Wales Holiday

Saturday 17th June 2017

Today was unfortunately home time - the weather today was wonderful and sunny!! We were however pleased to see that there were still clouds on the mountain tops!!
We set off around 09:30 and stopped in a pub for lunch on our way so we wouldn't have to cook when we got home.  We got home around 16:45, the journey had been low in places.

We will definitely be returning to Snowdonia - we have more on our to do list for the area!

Holiday - Northumberland and North Wales - Day 16 - Climbing Tryfan Bach

Northumberland and North Wales Holiday

Friday 16th June 2017

Today was our last day in North Wales. We decided to do some more Trad Climbing.  We headed back to the same area as yesterday - We planed to climb on Tryfan Bach.

We parked on the edge of the road and followed the footpath up to the crag.  At the bottom we looked at the toppo, identified the routes and picked one to start with.

Slab 1 - VDiff
Part 1 - 25m. Climb cracks then the slab past the left side of the boil to belay as for Crack 3.
Part 2 - 27m. Take the left of the two cracks above to rejoin Crack 3 near the top.

Once at the top we put our waling boots back on and set off over the top to the descent gully. Back at the bottom we picked another route.

Mossy Slab - HVD
Part 1 - 30m. Climb directly up the slab to belay by the large heather patch.
Part 2 - 17m. Head up and right to the top.

Back at the bottom again we decided to call it a day and head back to the cottage to have some dinner. Unfortunately tomorrow we go home. We have had a good holiday and have plenty of thing we want to do in both places on return visits.

Holiday - Northumberland and North Wales - Day 15 - Walk up Glyder Fach and Glyder Fawr

Northumberland and North Wales Holiday

Thursday 15th June 2017

Today we decided to head over to the Ogwen valley and hope the weather was going to be good enough for a walk with a view!  We were planning to walk up to Llyn Bochlwyd through Bwlch Tryfan and up on the east ridge of Glyder Fach. Continue upwards to the summit of Glyder Fach, past Castell Y Gwynt and on up to Glyder Fwar.  The route back down a scree path to the broad bwlch above Devil's Kitchen, down the Cwm Idwal-Nant Peris path to go round Llyn Idwal.  along side Idwal Slabs and back to the car park.

We parked up at the far end of Llyn Ogwen and got ready to walk - By now it was around 12pm.  Very quickly the path started to rise steeply.  We made slow progress and felt a long way up to Bwlch Tryfan.

Tryfan

Looking back down to Llyn Ogwen

Waterfall on Nant Bochlwyd

Llyn Bochlwyd

Llyn Bochlwyd

Looking up at Glyder Fach

Eventually we got onto the east ridge of Glyder Fach and still had 250m to climb!  Finally we got onto the top of Glyder Fach - We found The Cantilever which I went and stood on the end of.

The path across from Bwlch Tryfan

On the East Ridge of Glyder Fach looking back

On the East Ridge of Glyder Fach looking out to Moel Siabod

The Cantilever!

We then climbed up onto the summit!

Sat on the summit of Glyder Fach

From here we headed over to Glyder Fawr.  Unfortunately we had a bit of negative progress in between as we had to go down round the Castell Y Gwynt.  The landscape on the top was very strange.  Eventually made the summit of Glyder Fawr.

Looking up at Castell Y Gwynt

Looking back a Castell Y Gwynt

Looking back at Castell Y Gwynt and Glyder Fach

Glyder Fawr

Looking down to Llyn Idwal

The odd landscape of Glyder Fawr

Glyder Fawr Summit

The route down was really hard going on the legs.

Looking back up at Glyder Fawr Summit

Scree slope descent

Making our way down - Lunch spot sheltered just over the wall

Devil's Kitchen

Many steps to descend

Looking down to Llyn Idwal

Stream to cross

Down at Llyn Idwal

Finally back on level ground we headed back to the car with our legs feeling knackered!  It had been a very tough walk but well worth doing.
This evening back at the cottage we had some dinner and then watched a Bill Bailey DVD feeling very tired and achey.