HOLEHIRD GARDENS & LAKELAND FARM VISITOR CENTRE

First of all, my thoughts and prayers are currently with the people or Morocco and Libya.

HEADS UP TO PEOPLE COMING TO SOUTH CUMBRIA IN THE NEXT 8 WEEKS - PART OF THE A590 FROM THE MEATHOP ROUNDABOUT TO  JUST BEYOND THE GARAGE WILL BE DOWN TO ONE LANE FOR THE NEXT 8 WEEKS.  I don't know what work they are doing but obviously something important so at busy times it's going to be heaving there.

TODAY
A lovely few hours out with Hubby today.  Some of the things I'd thought of I abandoned as the Westmoreland Agricultural Show at Crookland was on today and that would mean heavy traffic on that part of the A590 and Junction 36 of the M6.

Instead we head up the aforementioned A590, whilst we still can, up to the A591 towards Kendal, through Ings Village and then at the Troutbeck Roundabout jointed the A592 until we got to the turn off for Holehird Gardens above Windermere Lake.  This trip was inspired by Fellow Blipper Knottman. I haven't been for ages.  We arrived early, about 9.45, but already an army of volunteers were there tending to the gardens - making the most of the great weather I guess.

This place is amazing it is pretty large and so much garden to tend too and solely done by volunteers - it's incredible what they manage to do.  We had a good wander around the various gardens, so glad I'd put on insect repellant this morning.  

It was a shame that the fountain no longer appears to be working and doesn't look like it has done so for a long time.  This could be to do with the fact the Former Mansion House there appears to now be empty and is up FOR LET - not part of Holehird though just in the same grounds.

After the gardens we walked on down to Holehird Tarn as well.  We've never done this before and be wary as it could very slippy when really wet.  We couldn't get all the way round due to water on the pathway and I was already somewhat wet round the ankles, this simply meant we just caught glimpses of the beautiful Tarn with two swans a swimming on there.  

I always think it's a shame they don't have a café here, but then on the other hand maybe that is a good thing.  You can sometimes get a coffee but not always, like today the space was taken up by the volunteers of course and quite rightly so.  

Anyway after a couple of very enjoyable hours.  We headed back down the A592 and A591 and just as you enter Ings Village took a left turn to go to Lakeland Farm Visitor Centre - this was inspired by another Blipper FastAperture.  We've never been before.  It is all very new and very lovely.  The food is AMAZING and I would imagine when schools are out it is heaving.  Today it was relatively quiet - although a booked coach party arrived - but not a large one.

We were greeted at the entrance by Lynn the Collie, who typical female Collie was all over Hubby!!!!  We bought a few produce items, had a delicious meal, of slow cooked brisket, minted mash potatoes, with carrots and leaks with gravy - all cooked to perfection (apologies to any vegetarians reading this)

We will definitely be going back and this will now become somewhere we have to go at least once a month or so I think - but obviously not when schools are out.

FABULOUS MORNING OUT.  I say morning as we left home at 9.10pm and were home again by 2.00pm, having done all that. 

In extras you will see the two swans a swimming on Holehird Tarn plus The view from the Farm Café and a Herdie.

OOOH AT LONG LAST I'VE REMEMBERED TO ENTER THE W-I-D-E WEDNESDAY CHALLENGE.  This is my entry of "classical landscape" - hope this counts???  Many thanks to BobsBlips for the info and to StevenG for hosting (I think I've got that right???)