Walking

The weather on our recent trip to Cumbria was not of the best: overcast and chilly, although rarely actually raining.

However, we managed some of our favourite walks.  This one starts near to the chapel at Wythop and winds round the base of Sale Fell, past the old stones of the ruined Wythop chapel in the woodlands, a favourite place to stop for lunch.

The path rises steeply to begin with, but soon levels out.

Now that the forestry people have cleared some of the dense coverage, there are spectacular views over Bassenthwaite.

Another day we lunched at the Pheasant and then walked up through Dodd woods to try to catch a glimpse of the ospreys from the vantage point across the valley from the nest.  This was not to be, but we did see this little fellow.  He looks bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, but a closer look reveals that he has a bad case of mange on his back.  Let's hope it is not itchy.

A couple of birdy pictures; birdsong was very much in evidence.

A stone-chat displaying in the coastal scrubland.

And a yellow-hammer, catching the low evening sun.