Does size really matter?

If you Google '10 Things about Cumbria' you'll find a host of websites clammouring to tell you that we have the highest mountain, the longest (and deepest) lakes and the steepest road in England (I'm not convinced that last one is even accurate!)  

It's true that our towering fells and shimmering lakes are utterly spectacular, and it's also true that you can have some pretty big adventures here, from zipwires to mountain biking, but what often gets missed is that Cumbria is full of small wonders too, things that folks can (and do!) walk right past without noticing.  

This year we have decided to explore nooks, crannies, and paths less travelled - and certainly paths we've never wandered along before.  To kick off our 'Small Year', here are my 10 favourite small things that we've spotted on our walks so far.

1. An enclosed footpath

I love wandering along old enclosed footpaths - you know that 'back in the day' they were probably bustling routes between farms and villages, but today they're just for hikers and wildlife.

 2. The Old Concrete Road

While cyclists and drivers in their thousands stream over the high passes, I'll settle for the old concrete road near Shap.  It's not the biggest, steepest or most dramatic, but I absolutely love a toddle along it.

3.  Frozen bubbles

To be fair, I've shared this picture before - but we only spotted these because we were dawdling (as usual!) and paused to look more closely at a tarn.  I've never seen frozen bubbles before or since and absolutely love this photo.

4.  Bluebell Woods

Rannerdale Bluebells are the stars of the show every year, but there are dozens of stunning bluebell woods all over Cumbria, and none more spectacular than Dorothy Farrer's Spring Woods near Stavely.

5.  Packhorse bridges

Yes, Ashness Bridge is super stunning, but it's alo super busy.  We discovered this absolute gem by complete accident during our Brewers Loop hike last year.  It's not far from Ravenglass, but for full location details you'll have to wait for the book.

6.  The flowers on Grange Prom

We live in Grange-over-Sands and there are flowers in bloom pretty much all year round.  I usually take a detour along the prom on my way to the shops, and I'm never disappointed.

7.  Skylarks

Well, birds in general to be honest, but is there anything lovelier than the background music of a skylark during a gentle summer walk?  And we were SO excited to see one this close!

8.  Moss on a wall

I know you'll think I've lost my marbles with this one, but I love moss on walls - especially when the sun catches it like this.  We were meant to be eating lunch but I just kept staring at the wall...

9.  Wells and water troughs

As well as moss, I also love stumbling on old wells and water troughs, for me they are a great reminder to appreciate the taps in our house.  Imagine having to head off with your bucket every time you wanted a drink, or to do the washing, or anything really.  So many of them are incredibly ornate too, and often have fascinating snippets of history and folklore behind them.

10.  Sharing the experience

Yeah, I know this one is cheesy, but surely one of the finest pleasures is sharing wonderful new discoveries with someone else?  I love that we get to work and play outside together so often - it just makes it so much more fun!

Want more info on Cumbria's tucked away treasures?  Then may I recommend one of our books?   They are crammed full of wonderful nuggets of history as well as Steve's fabulous photos, and I promise I do a happy dance whenever we sell one!  Click the pic to browse our bookshelf!

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10 Views of Cumbria that most people miss.

Amazing when you think of it that millions of folk visit the area every year and yet the ten views below are generally only seen by a relatively small number of people.  For such stunning views that seems an awful shame.  Some of them are easy to find, some are a bit of a hike and others simply require you to stop and look a little more closely at what's around you.

Frozen Bubbles, Place Fell

We spotted these in a small tarn on the top of Place Fell in January.  Just down off the summit were two frozen tarns which we wandered over to explore. They were both partially frozen and had the most beautiful patterns of frozen bubbles in them; one of those things that looked stunning but was really hard to do justice to with the camera.

Laurel & Hardy, Ulverston

Ulverston is best known for the Hoad monument and being the birthplace of Stan Laurel.  The Laurel & Hardy statue is not exactly hidden away but most people only look at it from the front.  I love this view Steve captured from behind with the little dog nipping at Hardy's feet.

Launchy Gill, Thirlmere

We found this view (and perfect picnic spot) because we're nosy; there's a way marked path from the shore of Thirlmere to Launchy Gill, but that only takes you part of the way.  Once we'd admired the falls from the wooden bridge we noticed a very small path leading up into the woods so we followed it and were rewarded with this.  Well worth it I'd say.

Piel Island

Another place not exactly hidden from view but very few people find their way to the end of Walney Island, which is a shame because the views across the sand to the castle at low tide are fabulous.  As are the views in pretty much every other direction too.  This was one of those perfect timing shots; dark grey clouds behind and the sun briefly lighting up the castle.

Wild Pansy, Eskmeals Dunes

Wild Pansies don't only exist on Eskmeals Dunes but they did look particularly stunning there, somehow surviving in the middle of barren looking sand dunes.  We're guest bloggers for Cumbria Wildlife Trust and thoroughly enjoy learning more about the wildlife of Cumbria as well as exploring hidden away corners we would otherwise have missed.

Pillar Rock from Ennerdale route

A very recent one this but already one of my all time favourite views in the Lake District.  We were making our way up Pillar via the rather long Ennderdale route; by the time we reached this point we'd already hiked over 7 miles.  We emerged from woodland, rounded a corner and BAM, there it was; it quite literally stopped me in my tracks.  We only saw 1 other person that day on the route, a crying shame when there are views like this to be had.

Smardalegill Viaduct

Not all of the stunning views in Cumbria are natural, some of them are man-made, like the fabulous Smardalegill Viaduct.  This now disused viaduct sweeps elegantly across the valley; a huge viaduct for such a small gill.  Built in 1861 the viaduct fell into disrepair after the line closed in 1962, the structure was threatened with demolition in the 1980's before the Northern Viaduct Trust saved it; they fully restored it and in 1992 it was reopened to the public.

Blindtarn Gill Waterfalls

Now this one *is* tricky to find.  The easiest approach is to follow the main track from Grassmore towards Easedale Tarn then peel off towards Swinescar Pike.  Half a mile or so along the track a "sort of a path" drops away steeply towards the falls, slither down there and this is what you'll find.  Be warned though, the approach is very steep and isn't easy in either direction.

Skylarks

Is there anything finer on any sunny day than being serenaded by a Skylark to two?  They're often heard but hard to see, well hard to see close up anyway. This particular chap posed perfectly for us during one of our longer hikes, but it's a good job we were quick with the camera, he didn't stay still for long!

Barkbooth Lot

Barkbooth Lot is another of the Cumbria Wildlife Trust's nature reserves and lies just a few miles south of Bowness.  Half woodland and half open heathland this is a wonderfully varied little spot plus on all of the occasions we've been we've never seen another soul, so it's the perfect place to escape the crowds. It's beautiful at any time of the year but really comes into its own when the bluebells and garlic are in full bloom.

Find the time to Stand and Stare.

Riggindale Valley

When I first posted the pictures Steve took of the Golden Eagle at Riggindale I mentioned to a friend (Ray @scafellhike) how long we'd sat waiting to see it and he reminded me of the poem "Leisure" by WH Davies, which I have loved for many years.  

The poem has stuck with me this week as I've reflected on our walk around Riggindale; while we were sitting in the sun for the best part of 2 hours only one person paused nearby and peered hopefully into the valley and they were gone in a few minutes.  We saw a few other folk up on Kidsty Pike but none of them stayed longer than 5 minutes tops and by 4pm we had the entire valley to ourselves.

48 hours later I was in central London with thousands of people racing in every direction.  I don't dislike London at all, it has some spectacular architecture and hidden corners, I'm just not very good with the the crowds of people, always in a hurry and seemingly oblivious to what's around them.

WH Davies doesn't suggest you "pause and glance for a moment" he asks you to "stand and stare".  Take time out of the rushing around to truly appreciate your surroundings. How many of us have asked "Is it May already?  Hasn't the year flown by?" Life has a habit of doing that, racing past us as if it was never going to run out.  So, in the middle of the chaos of modern life, may I invite you to pour a drink, put your feet up and stare at a selection of photographs from two quite different places:  Riggindale and Gray's Inn Road, London.

Leisure - WH Davies

WHAT is this life if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare?

No time to stand beneath the boughs,

And stare as long as sheep and cows:

No time to see, when woods we pass,

Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass:

No time to see, in broad daylight,

Streams full of stars, like skies at night:

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,

And watch her feet, how they can dance:

No time to wait till her mouth can

Enrich that smile her eyes began?

A poor life this if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.

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  Please don't go! Our books make perfrct pressies and you can buy them all right HERE.  You could even read them on your commute! We will be happy to sign them and they make the perfect gift for lovers of Cumbria.  Honest they do.  Also Christmas is coming.  Just saying...