NICHOL END MARINA

A lovely and slightly disappointing day today.

Although very cold this morning there was no frost here in Grange so we decided we would go up to the Lingholm Estate on Derwentwater.  

One lane was closed on the A590 from Levens up to the M6 and as there was a tractor way ahead it was slow, but other than that the journey there was fine, the roads nice and quiet and no problems at all.

On arrival I noticed the first of the changes since I was last there, probably about 18 months ago and that is you now have to pay for parking, although you get £4 of it back if using the cafe.

The second and third changes were that the shop within the cafe is no longer there, instead there are more tables, still very well spaced though  and it is now table service, which suits me really well.

We had a delicious light early lunch, being about 11:15.  Then had a wander round the walled garden.  In extras you can see Peter Rabbt iwth friends (Flopsy and Mopsy mabye!!!)  What I really wanted to do was to go down to the Jetty to take photos, but sadly you can no longer go there.  That is such a shame and was the whole point me going there.  Oh well never mind.

Garron cannot do the longish walk to get to the lakeside past the Alpacas, so instead we went on down to Nichol End Marina.  That is all closed up, probably for the winter but we could still walk around a little.  The jetty's there were blocked off but you could go part way along one, so that is where the photograph was taken.

This walk is not far, but there and back it is a little too much for Garron, especially as there are no benches to sit on along the way.  Ahh well lesson learned.

We then drove on down The Lakes and stopped off in Ambleside.   Garron wanted to see if the Rock Shop was open, but sadly it was closed for their annual stocktaking.  We stopped off for coffee at The Bumble's Rest Cafe  (I think it used to be called The Rattle Ghyll Cafe).

We then had a little walk around Ambleside whilst it was very quiet before coming home.  The sun was so low in the sky at places that I was totally blinded - that is the only problem this time of the year when it's such a lovely sunny day. 

That's all from me for today - do take care and stay safe and I will see you all tomorrow.