With Sophie. Things not to do in the Lake District when the rain puts you off the fells. Don’t go to the Alpaca Centre at Stainton. We did just that and were told that the alpacas, who don’t like the wet, get shut away indoors on rainy days. So we needed a plan B and thought we’d go look at Lowther Castle. This was a much better idea. The castle is a ruined shell and what’s left of its interior is closed off. But the grounds are wonderful to ramble around, especially the path along the top of Burtree Scar with wonderful views down the Lowther Valley. After so rambling we checked out the tea room which we found dispiritingly deserted on this May Bank Holiday lunchtime. Friendly staff did us a pretty nice lunch and some decent coffee and it didn’t seem fair they were so quiet. At which point we noticed how nice the weather had turned and thought some kind of walk in order. A short drive down the road to Askham took us to the start of s seven mile circular walk in Wainwright’s Outlying Fells (or the Wainwright Geriatirics, as it is hard not to call it). This turned out to be an utterly delightful walk that climbs the easy hill before taking a turn around Divock Moor where the grassy conditions underfoot are so easy it’s like walking on a carpet or a suburban lawn. After going pretty directly to the flat top of the none too spectacular hill, with fabulous views down Ullswater, we followed AW’s directions north to Heugh Scar then south for about a mile to the first of two ancient stone circles this walk visits. The second is about another mile southeast just before the conspicuous Copp Stone rock. From here it was an easy stroll north then north east back to the car. A tasty meal in the foodie pub at Yanwath rounded off a pretty good day. (I could have had some nice pictures to show for it all had not my camera continued to malfunction.)
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