The Cataract

Today was mostly about water, in particular that which fell yesterday as seen on this bright clear day.
We went to see the Falls of Lodore, made famous by Robert Southey in his poem, which describes so well the way the water descends through the narrow, rocky cataract to join Derwent Water. Parking at Kettlewell NT carpark it was a short half-mile, safe, walk to the falls, above the large hotel. Photos do not do them justice as so much is hidden by overhanging trees but the roar of the water could be heard a distance away.

Leaving there we drove up to Watendlath, over Ashness Bridge, which appears on every calendar of the Lake District and is crawling with visitors, (see extra 2 in a second of quiet) and on right up to Fold Head Farm and very welcome tearoom., which served us very nice sandwiches and coffee. The farm was used by Hugh Walpole as the setting for Judith Paris, in his Herries novels.

Crossing the pack horse bridge over Watendlath Beck we walked a little way downstream, buzzed by a dragonfly, then back upstream to walk by the tarn. It is from here that the water 'comes down at Lodore'. The path was wet with running water and large puddles - other walkers pointed out leeches in one puddle, we counted four. Extra 2 also has view across the tarn to the farm.

Extra 1 is a speckled wood, who obliged by sitting still for a close-up, clearly expecting fame by appearing on Blipfoto.

From Watendlath we drove over to Whitehaven to see the sea and pottered home from there.