My Life In Limbo: Lake District, England

June 26 - July 3, 2010

Not a hint of noise pollution to be heard for miles, we had come upon the Lake District of Great Britain. For a week we were greeted with chirping birds, buzzing bees and cows and sheep in paddocks. For a week we were also greeted with limited internet access, for half a week, no running water, and for a day, no power...due to woodpeckers. Nonetheless, Summerhill Cottage at Cartmel Fell was very cozy, and the Masons' Arms pub had lovely food to offer just a short walk down the hill, as did The Swan pub at Newby Bridge, too.

Like Snowdonia, the Lake District has rolling countryside and greener than green views across the landscapes. In addition, as its name states, it also features over eighty lakes nestled among mountains, or fells. These lakes made perfect walks and picnic spots as did Fell Foot Park in Staveley-in-Cartmel. Those visited included Coniston Water, Rydal Water, Ullswater (where we spent Mum's birthday dinner at the Sharrow Bay Hotel with a gorgeous six-course taster meal) as well as Derwent Water, the location in which the quality art utensils originate (only those interested in visual art, like myself, would currently understand what I'm babbling on about). Furthermore, we also spent time in Bowness-on-Windermere on Lake Windermere. If you ever happen to be in the area and believe that it is a spectacular idea to rent out a little wooden motorboat, well...it isn't. Especially when you're speeding at a max of 5mph and you're stuck out in the middle of the lake with a bloodsucking tick attached to your arm (personal experience and incredibly unenjoyable).

Spending one lunch at Grasmere, the burial site to William Wordsworth, the famous English Romantic poet, we also explored other villages such as Hawes, Keswick and Buttermere. Penrith also made a place on our itinerary one day, however, quite unpleasantly, much of this particular village had boarded up storefronts as well as rubbish littering the streets. If you happen to come across Sizergh, don't miss a visit to Sizergh Castle which has been home to the Strickland family for more than 750 years, and still is. The original structure of this medieval castle dates back to the 14th century and has been extended since, in the Elizabethan era, with features such as detailed interior oak-panelling.

As for scenic drives, the Yorkshire Dales are astounding in natural landscape, while Wrynose and Hardknott Passes provide some incredible photo-worthy locations. Definitely worth a hit!