High Swinside Blog
I've never had a blog before so this should be interesting.... I hope to use it to share superb walks, record exciting local events, and give a delicious flavour of what staying at High Swinside might be like!

Apologies that there's been nothing new added for a while. Shocking! Trouble is too much has been happening - hot tubs going in, improvements to the cottages when time has allowed, 2 raised beds for my modest veg garden, and just the busy-ness of changeovers days and the pleasure of welcoming new guests. I promise I'll write a Blog article soon - maybe about enjoying a soak in the hot tub as the sun sets or the moon rises, or celebrating the changing colours of the landscape as the year progresses....
Monday, 11th April 2016: Snowy views from Low Fell
I just got back from Guernsey (a very good friend, Jen, had kindly looked after my guests at High Swinside and fed my cat and hens during my absence - then stuck around to help with a busy changeover day - that's a friend for you!)










For the first two mornings back we woke to snow on the tops, so yesterday I just had to get out walking for a couple of hours.


After dropping off the recycling in Low Lorton, I drove around to Thackthwaite on the other side of Lorton valley, and climbed the path up onto Low Fell - a walk I've never done before and have been wanting to do since I got here.








What a superb day to be out! And though it was a Sunday and still the Easter holidays I only met a couple of people as I climbed the path beside the beck, then up through fields to the fell proper.





It was a lovely grassy path with stunning views across the valley and towards Crummock Water whenever I turned around.







Higher in the rough grass several pairs of larks were starting their courtship, and on the fell top their song ascended in the still air if I walked too near.






I didn't have time to go right to the end of the fell for the most stunning views, but it was lovely to detour over a rocky knoll above the valley, and sit there soaking it all in for a while.





Across the valley I could see High Swinside cottages on the side of Swinside Fell with Skiddaw snowy in the distance beyond Whinlatter Pass.








Grasmoor and Whiteside rose majestically opposite where I sat, while down the valley I was treated to a sumptuous view of Crummock Water with the High Stile ridge and Great Gable beyond - all topped in snow - I could have been in the Alps!















I returned the way I'd come and took a brief detour to Foulsyke for another breathtaking photo before returning to High Swinside (to put the next load of sheets out on the line to dry in the sun). Such is my new life - it's turning out to be a wonderful mix of stunning views, good company, and domesticity!