Today our trip took us to Wast Water lake – one of the western lakes in the Lake District, which means that you actually have to drive for nearly 1.5h from Lancaster. Yet in the end it definitely was worth it!

The slopes of the surrounding mountains are coloured in different shades

and the whole lake has a rather eerie feeling

As our planned walk around the eastern slope was impossible due to stone slides we decided to hike up a valley

It was rather chilly again, but the steep incline made you warm within meters

Rough landscape, but beautiful anyhow

The look back towards the lake

The sheep here are very fluffy as well – more like bobtails

Totally cuddly

As it gets dark at around 17:15 we had to turn back pretty early to catch the last rays of the setting sun

Everything is still in winter mode

As I love these contrasts and images I had to make a HDR image (like more later on…)

Single birch before back…

We were just lucky to catch sunset on such a perfect late winter day…

The sky was ablaze – as were the mountains

I loved these views

Glowing sky

It’s chilly

The last rays

The very last ones

Afterwards we headed to a typical countryside pub with real ales

And hops as decoration

Open fireplace, hot beef & beer pie together with 2 nice pints… What else do you need?

After the pub we just returned and retired…

The next day started in pure fog. Crossing the mountain range to the North revealed a blue brilliant sky indeed. So we made some small hikes – this time starting alongside a river

Overgrown stones

And beautiful riverbeds

not a single leaf is visible…

and up the hills 1000 years (if you consider the Romans arrived 79 AD then nearly 2000 ) of agriculture and use of the land can be seen…

Not a single tree – just meadows for sheep

The lake (actually a reservoir) is below

Basking in the sun… You can see the single lane sheep tracks – sometimes they are double lane. Our nickname was dual carriage sheep-way

 

A wonderful rowan tree

Again as HDR

Growing out of stone…

Enjoying the sun

Back at the car the real old oaks

Groovy

Old and twisted

A very magical place indeed

derelict but alive

The next day was a traveling day and I ended in Kings Lynn – an old hanseatic town (pretty much like Lübeck). Most buildings are from around 1400 – 1600, including the hotel (1452…)

Henry VIII or Elizabeth I

And the story goes on…

This time it’s about heads…

An old building alongside the main market place

and a very colourful Pakistani restaurant for the dinner (just as a kind of escape from classical English food…)