#CountryKids Glenridding and Ullswater

We had friends visiting Cumbria from the south coast and when I had to think of somewhere to meet up I suggested Glenridding on the shores of Ullswater. Its part of the Lake District I have barely been to and I wanted to go again. So my son and I had the fun of Kirkstone Pass, the highest pass open to motor vehicles in Cumbria, with twisty roads and up to 1:4 inclines to get there! We met up at St Patrick's Boat Landing and over coffee my friends suggested a row on the lake...

The water was pretty smooth and as the only big vessels are the steamers its a pretty safe body of water to be out and about on. It did help that my friend was an experienced oarsman who safely got us past the restored Steamer Pier:

There were quite a few people out enjoying the water despite the lack of wind for sailing:

The red sailed boat did seem to manage OK and added to lots of my photographs like this of the Inn on the Lake:

Tuesday Tea with Birchall Tea

I was invited by Birchall Tea to join them at the Inn on the Lake on the shores of Ullswater for a tea tasting afternoon. Now I am not a normal tea fan but when they said there would be infusions and herbal type teas to try I accepted their offer.   

As it was the school holidays I had to take my children with me and we took the only current route from Kendal to Ullswater which doesn't take you on the M6! This took us up and over Kirkstone Pass and I can't remember the last time I went this way and the children had no memory of its curves and steep slopes. We paused part way down for a windy photo stop: