Lower Borrowdale, Lake District, Spring
I mostly shot this photograph for the trees on the fell. To me it looks like some ancient woodland god has scribbled her signature across the fell and trees have sprouted in the wake of her pen.
Travel restrictions for outdoor exercise have eased, but we still didn’t want to take the piss.
So, rather than head right into the usual honeypots of the Lake District, Lisabet and I drove less than 10-miles north on the A6 to hike down a quiet little valley. This is Lower Borrowdale; the “lower” prefix more to distinguish it from its famous namesake south of Keswick.
The area around Lower Borrowdale, sometimes called Westmorland Borrowdale, only recently became included in the Lake District National Park, back in August 2016. Since then work has been done on the paths through and around the valley, although more needs doing. The valley is quiet, lined on its southern slopes by the Ashstead Plantation, and more trees are being planted across the northern slopes.
We enjoyed a long hike through the valley and back, noting the dry rivers and becks, and saying hello to all the Swaledale and Kendal Rough Fell sheep with their new lambs.
A gorgeous view of Lower Borrowdale from the A6 above it.
A Kendal Rough Fell ewe chilling with her little lamb.
A drystone wall snaking its way up the fell.
A delightful little scene Lisabet and I came across: an egg-like boulder with a tiny sapling resting on it.
Borrow Beck, which runs through the valley, looking thoroughly parched. England could really do with a good week of solid rain.
Clouds building up, looking back the way we came.
One of the numerous becks that criss-cross the valley, totally dried up.
Another lovely scene we stopped to explore and photo; this old barn with its own little woodland.
A slither of light catching the top of Castle Fell (478 m/1,568 ft), with Swaledale ewes and their lambs grazing below.