A wander around Keswick

Sunday 11th June 2023

Today we left our idilic and peaceful camping spot at Buttermere and returned to the lakeside carpark at Keswick to have a wander around the market town.

Despite the Honister Pass having a 2 metre width warnings at the start, I'd watched all weekend the local buses coming through without a problem, so I asked my farmer friend about it. 

He confirmed it was there just to scare the caravan tuggers into not attempting it. 

In a motorhome we'd have no problem as the buses that use it are considerably wider than us.

So off we set across the Honister Pass, up the side of Fleetwith Pike to the Honister Slate Mine at the top.

It was a mostly uneventful drive but spectacular scenery all around as we followed the beck and drove up the valley with Fleetwith Pike on our right.

We were nearing the steepest and narrowest part of the pass as we approached the slate mine. Then it came into view was a geeser who'd stopped his car blocking the road and was taking photographs of . . . . . wait for it . . . . .  foxgloves at the road side.

So I was forced to do a hill start on the steepest bit of road in the lake district.

My clutch is taking some punishment on this trip 😭

He could have parked on the slate mine and walked back 30 yards and photographed to his hearts content.

And actually that's what he did eventually, as I saw him later when I was having a wander around.

There are some spectacular views from the slate mine and they sell all kinds of slate products from headstones to house number tablets.

We later set off down the borrowdale valley towards Keswick.

After having a look around the town and listening to a street performer, a lady with a most amazing voice, to be honest, it sounded like a recording and she was miming, but we'll give her the benefit of doubt and it was a lovely sound.

We also walked through Hope Park and Louis sat next to Max the miracle dog who called Keswick home and enjoyed walkies in the area. He became a bit of a celebrity.

Louis with Max the miracle dog

Hope Park Keswick

Then we moved onto our camping place for the night.

Burns Farm at Keswick is a lovely campsite and it was welcome to have all services on tap so we were able to fill with fresh water, dump the dirty stuff and plug into the campsite electricity to enjoy air conditioning in Ed in these unusually warm weather conditions.

So the barbie was set up and we had the most delicious beef burgers and baps we'd got from Booth's in Keswick.

Along with some salad (and the odd beer) it made for a perfect campsite tea.

Burns Farm pitch

Burns Farm Reception

Burns Farm Glamping Pods, they look a bit oppresive to me,
not much glam ?
I think they need an engine and four wheels, ha ha !

Burns Farm Bell tents

It's gone a bit cloudy and there's a threat of thunder later tonight