A Tipi in the woods!

I started the day with our usual Ladies' early Thursday morning walk around the St Ives Estate and really enjoyed it as I kept up with everyone else as I wasn't stopping to take photos!

The reason was I knew we were going out later for a day in the Lake District. When we were there last year we couldn't go to Wray Castle as it wasn't open in March so we decided to make it our first place to visit this year.

Wray Castle is a National Trust property that has been previously leased for private use but is now back in the hands of the trust. It is completely unfurnished and like a new acquisition Allen Banks nr Grasmere, they are asking the public what they would like to happen to the property in terms of the restoration programme.

In the past Beatrix Potter and her family stayed here and they have paintings done by Beatrix and photographs taken by her father Rupert from that time to refer to for authenticity.

Unfortunately it was very hazy and rather dull today so distance views across Lake Windermere from the castle were lacking interest for photography, but from the upper rooms of the castle I could see colour in the distance. On investigation we found these Tipis at another National Trust property, Low Wray campsite just down the road. They didn't seem to be occupied but certainly added some colour to the countryside which sadly still looks very wintry. You can just make out the castle in the background through the trees.

We went on to Hawkshead for tea and cake at The Minstrels Gallery and there was a little more colour from the daffodils in the churchyard and of course lots of lambs in the fields to confirm that it really is Spring.