During our visit to Grasmere yesterday, clouds lay low over rolling hills, but the greyness just added atmosphere to the water, hills, woods, dry stone walls, ferns and wildflowers along our way.
We’d stopped off here to walk around the lake: my idea of exercise! Our route took us past houses, lakeside businesses, farmland and woods before swinging down to the path around the shore.
The views along this three mile walk are uplifting (they’ll entice you to dawdle, so allow a little more time than you think you’ll need) and there are relatively few hills to negotiate. For the hikers amongst you, there are plenty of more challenging walks nearby, including the relatively short but steep ascent to Helm Crag which overlooks the lake.
Wildflowers around the lake testify to Grasmere’s unspoiled nature, despite the tourists its heritage and beauty attracts. The lake itself offers rich pickings for lovers of coarse fishing.
Even the narrow, moss covered jetty on the Dove Cottage side of the lake could hardly be more picturesque, despite its no-frills functionality for those with deft footing.
Above and below, you’ll perhaps be able to make out a wooded island in the lake. These days it’s privately owned, but two centuries ago, it was a favourite haunt of the poet William Wordsworth who lived for a while at Dove Cottage, close to the lake shore. It doesn’t take a critic to work out why nature played such an important part in his inspiration.
I promise to come back to take pictures on a more classically beautiful day, so you can see what a blue sky would add to the view – I’d guess, to northern eyes like mine, it’s a difference in the character rather than degree of beauty. But a repeat trip would hardly be a sacrifice!
We said farewell to the sheep, left Grasmere refreshed by its natural beauty and headed on north.
On the way home, we were tempted by a well placed sign post to visit Holehird Gardens where we found their hydrangeas and astilbes in full flower. I’ll be posting pictures soon, but will just say it’s the perfect time for a visit!
If you know The Lake District, please feel free to share any favourite walks or places in the comments.
Susan Rushton 
What a lovely place! Looks like a fairy tale, especially with the gray sky and clouds. 🙂
The little island in the centre isn’t easy to make out except on an overhead view, but you’re right, but I can imagine all kinds of tales and folk lore being set over there!
Hi Susan! I haven’t seen your post for a while. This one is lovely. I haven’t been there since 1971. This was almost like being there. I’m going to try to re blog this on http://therogerspost.com Cheers, c
Thanks C!
Reblogged this on charles rogers home page and commented:
I have this author for some time. She does beautiful flower and nature photography. I think you will find this refreshing. c
On a blue sky day the lakes become very different from when seen on a misty day. Both views, although different are magical 🙂
Thanks for your comment. I made a vow to visit more often – I’m lucky that I live only about an hour away so I ought to take advantage of that.
Thank you for the follow..You have such a wonderful blog..I am going to look for the photography tips although I can’t lug my bigger camera around anymore but I always have my Lumix in my pocket… I can see why this was inspiration to a poet…Michelle,,,
My pleasure! I often use my iPhone myself these days – it fits snugly in my smallest ‘walking’ bag!
still beautiful whatever the weather – I did this walk some years ago – lovely!
Wordsworth my favourite poet , now I know where he saw his Daffodils ! You have taken amazing pics and they have stirred in me a longing to visit Grasmere , walk the lake though I am far far away in India.
What an idyllic place. You took some great shots with wildflowers adding to the romance of it all!