" Loweswater Christmas "

Date & start time: 24th December 2011.

Location of Start : The red phone box, Loweswater , Cumbria, Uk ( NY 143 211 )

Places visited : Round and about the valley.

Walk details : Here, there and everywhere over the last 7 days.

Highest point : Certainly wasn't the weather !

With : Ann and the dogs, Harry and Bethan.

Weather : Mild, wet and windy . . . the exact opposite of the frost weather last year !

Christmas is a time for festivities and traditions, for mince pies and hot mulled wine.

The run up to Christmas in Loweswater this year has rather nicely followed normal traditions

... apart from the appalling weather !

I've included this photo of the Fish Inn, in appreciation of a rather nice pre-Christmas buffet which started the week here in Loweswater.

I had no camera with me to reflect the darkness, the wetness or the wind,

as we were safely indoors enjoying the Loweswater Ladies (and partners) Christmas get-together.

It is one of the traditions of the valley that carols are sung around the houses just prior to Christmas.   It is organised by Ann Hayton and is also a fund raising event for the NSPCC.   A dozen or so folk gathered at Thackthwaite and drive around singing carols to those that were resident in their homes that night.

The names are withheld to protect the guilty !

I'll leave you guess which one is our local vicar !

The welcome light at Red How.

Two welcome lights at Naomi's house.

Hold your cursor over the picture to see our first pleasant surprise !

Several carols later we find ourselves at the Kirkstile Inn . . .

. . . where we were made very welcome, as ever, and sung to the diners, guests and those of the staff that were able to hear through the kitchen doors.

Thanks for the spirit of Christmas and a true "Wassail"

At the end of the evening we made our way across . . .	. . . to William and Marion's home at Askhill Farm.

Here all those folk whose houses we had passed by . . .	. . . were gathered in order to chat and join in with more singing.

William obviously knows the words off by heart !	Marion's "three generations" sharing a carol sheet.

It is functions like this that really makes Christmas a special time.

- - - o o o - - -

The following night the team were out again, but this time visiting houses on the road to Buttermere.

Traditional Christmas Jelly Babies at Turner How.	Blessed with dry weather at Beck House.

A real stables at Crag Farm.

Door to door in good voice despite a smaller group tonight.

The Bridge Hotel Buttermere where we sung to a small but appreciative audience.

(looking for a winter bargain . . . try the "Muddy Boots" 2 nights stay . . . and now pet-friendly once again.)

The evening was concluded with conversations here in Crag Cottages and at Syke Farm.

Including the contributions from other carol nights in surrounding villages, Ann has raised over a thousand pounds for NSPCC

A big thank you for everyone who put money in the tin this Christmas.

Stop Press: We've made the Cumbria Crack News Website . . . click here to see the article.

- - - o o o - - -

It was November 2009 that Cockermouth suffered those big floods that flowed six feet deep down the main street,

the flood water carrying all before it.

Last year the lights were on and the public were out to those shops and establishments that had re-built their businesses.

This year it really feels like the town is back on its own two feet . . . there's a real buzz about Main Street again.

Station Street looking "up the hill" from the town centre.

The height plaque can be seen on the left hand end of the building which featured in so many of the flood photos. They have re-opened and now have a great tea room to complement the New Bookshop.

Firns Traditional Hardware shop complete with flashing Christmas lights

Hold your cursor over the picture to see the slightly non-Christmassy message !

Cockermouth Main Street Tree . . .	. . . and the adjacent Mayo Statue.

The colourful Linden Tree Christmas window.	Cleeland's Father Christmas has had rather too many biscuits !

Hallmark Card shop has had a special delivery.

It may look dry to you this evening . . . but I think it looks like rain-dear !

Walking up towards the police station at the top of Main Street.

. . . where there is a formal Bethlehem Crib display

The River Cocker from the Cocker Bridge at the top of town.

The Christmas lights belong to the riverside restaurant, now fully open and serving delicious food.

Two of three colourful windows . . .	. . . at the Percy House Gallery.

J. B. Banks iconic and still up-and-running Ironmongers and Keysmiths

even though they are closed at this time of night.

Santa lights in Market Square	The Glass Angel in Lily and Co. opposite.

The brightly lit Castle Bar in Market Square	The award winning Quince & Medlar Vegetarian Restaurant.

Colourful Market Place, briefly without a moving car in sight.

- - - o o o - - -

Finally on my way home from George Fishers I called in at Winder Hall in Lorton

where our First Responders Group were holding a fundraising "Mulled Wine and Mince Pies Evening"

The festivities were helped along by an excellent contingent from the Lorton and Loweswater Church choirs who sang during the evening.

Amongst the many raffle prizes on offer was the final unsold copy of the 2012 Loweswatercam Calendar.

Profits from the evening will go to providing emergency medical assistance within the valley.

[ If you missed out on your calendar this year you'll have to search the black market or get your order in early for next year's edition ]

That sort of says it all !

Best Wishes and thanks for being there and making it all worth while.

- - - o o o - - -

Technical note: Pictures taken with either Ann's Fuji Finepix T300 Compact or my Canon G10 digital camera.

Resized in Photoshop, and built up on a Dreamweaver web builder.

This site best viewed with . . . a glass of hot mulled wine, family and friends.

Go to Top . . . © RmH.2011 . . . Email me here

Previous walk - Sunday 18th December 2011 A Glorious Winter's Day

A previous time in Loweswater - 25th Dec 2009 Christmas 2009

Next walk - Sunday 25th December 2011 Our Christmas Day