Kippered

A really good day.

We travelled up to Bowland, arriving at the Inn at Whitwell late morning. The lych gate to the adjacent church was bedecked in flowers (extra), there had been a wedding yesterday. Coffee on the terrace at the back of the Inn, soaking in the scene. The Hodder valley is just beautiful (extra). And the Inn at Whitewell is my favourite Inn, it has just about everything. Part of the Whitewell Estate, which is owned by the Duchy of Lancaster. So in a sense the landlady is the Queen.

Then a circular walk. Taking the stepping stones over the Hodder (extra) we walked up to New Laund Farm. We chatted to the farmer - she is quite a character, we have met her before - and had a look at the ewes and lambs in the lambing shed (extra - triplets for this tired ewe). Lots of newly borns. Walking on, lots of peewits and curlews in the fields, and a good view of a resident redshank. And a mother mallard leading her new brood over the field for their first swim in the river.

Back for lunch, and I had Norfolk kipper and brown bread. Really tasty. 

After lunch, up to Dunsop Bridge for a walk up the valley. Dunsop bridge reckons it is the most central place in the UK. Not sure how they work that one out, but if they say so .......