It was a last minute planning but everything worked well: a couple of phone calls and we managed to book a hotel just one week before leaving. How lucky we were considering it was a summer bank holiday weekend! Another phone call for the car rental and I negotiated a small discount with an upgrade! I really started thinking if my usual Internet booking approach was the most efficient way even in this modern world!
The only downside was the not-too-optimistic weather forecast! Oh well, it's England and we learn to ignore the weather forecast anyway, do we?
3 days are obviously not enough to visit the whole lake district, but we've learnt recently the travelling is not about seeing everything, it's to focus: focus on the highlights, the things you'll remember.
So here're the highlights of our 3-day trip:
Day 1- Lost in Buttermere
We would probably never visit here if we haven't lost our way to another famous spot. Buttermere lake is such a tiny lake compared to other ones in the region and the location also makes it not the most convenient one to reach. But its versatile landscape impressed us immediately even without a blue sky: beautiful hills, calm lake, zigzag road leading to the surprise, lazy sheep laying just next to the road.
We regret not making a stop there and walking around to enjoy more its wonder. We are always caught by the so called goal and ignore the existence of the journey.
Day 2-Climbing the 4th highest mountain-Skiddaw.
Highlight happens when it's not planned.
Well, I didn't plan to climb a mountain at all, let alone the 4th highest mountain in England under a raining windy day carrying a baby all the time (luckily it was not me who carried our 2 years old son). I thought we came to lake district to see lakes, why climb a mountain? But we did. 2 hours up, 1 hour down, most of the time under the rain. I even don't have the picture on the top as we can't see anything up there. I nearly gave up when we were half way through.
But the reward came later with bright sunshine waiting for us down the car parking, followed by a sunny afternoon sitting in the boat watching my brave man bathing in the lake and a cosy meal in the evening. I don't know if I want to climb Skiddaw again one day, probably not until I have done enough exercises, but this experience won't be forgotten.
Day 3-Dog friendly pub-Dog &Gun
How can we travel around England without commenting a pub?
An old styled pub, small, often too crowded but not missing any charm. It's so dog friendly that you will think its a dog owner meeting point and you can just sit down and enjoy the spectacle. People order dog food (for their dogs) while waiting for their pint. All types of dogs meet here, talking or shouting to each other, yet it's still a cosy and enjoyable place to be even you don't come with a dog.
The food was simply great with a reasonable price. Hungary Goulash is a must try, but only order the half portion even you are very hungry! It's a shame they didn't have olives: I had such an olive craving that day but was told off by my man that this type of pub doesn't serve this too sophisticated food! Really?Is it a middle class food then? I have to do more research in the future...
