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" Dubwath and Binsey "

Date & start time: Monday  17th November 2014, 3.30 pm start.

Location of Start : Roadside near Binsey Cottage, Bassenthwaite, Cumbria, ( NY 235 351)

Places visited : Dubwath (at the foot of Bass Lake) and Binsey.

Walk details :   1.75 mls,  600 feet of ascent, a leisurely hour long walk.

Highest point : Binsey summit, 1,466ft - 447m.

Walked with : Ann and our dogs, Harry and Dylan.

Weather : Overcast but clearing nicely.

© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. License number PU 100034184.

 

Today we needed a walk for ourselves and the dogs

and we also needed to buy a suitable birthday present for a certain member of the family.

Where do we get those two things reasonably close together . . . well today at Dubwath and Binsey.

Firstly, we visit an old Victorian model farm,

one purpose built in the last century as a working farm with a large hay barn, animal byres and storehouses.

It has ceased to operate as a farm and is rapidly taking on a new lease of life as something completely different.

From the front door of the old house you can look across the Derwent Valley at Binsey,

across the meadow where the alpaca grazing happily in the fields, now tended by someone else.

The house has a 'pre-opening' Visitor Centre and everyone is invited to pop in and hear of their plans for the property . . . any ideas why ?

At present a visit to the 'attraction' is restricted to a view across the fence at all the workmen.

On the rise of Barkhouse hill they are building a large car park in the trees ready for you !

They are renovating the buildings and replacing or repairing roofs left right and centre.

There's plenty of activity . . .

but they hope to have the place sorted, the Christmas Tree up and the lights on, for the big launch day . . . Dec 15th 2014.

The large water tanks at the side of the building

give the clue to the industrial process they are about to embark on.

 

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Welcome to The Lakes Distillery, Cumbria.

 

Here they will soon be producing the first

Cumbrian Gin and whisky in a brand new distillery

and serving meals in a brand new restaurant

and function room.

 

The 'Stills' are in and tested.

The workmen have just a few weeks to get the place ready.

A new Cumbrian business and

(no doubt) a new tourist attraction is nearly under way.

We bought our 'present' and moved on . . . across the river and up to Binsey for the walk we promised ourselves.

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We parked at the sheepfold, on the roadside near Binsey cottage, and started our ascent of the fell.

Amazingly we haven't done this local climb since August last year . . . how time flies.

The gentle slopes allowed us a wide panorama of the Skiddaw fells.

Cloud over the high fells cast a shadow on the summits but there was a fine sunset on offer.

We head up the fell hopefully to catch a view of it from the top.

Close up of the stone trig point at the summit

We get there just as the sun disappears behind a cloud !

But I bring out reinforcements, wait a moment, the sun re-appears and we're back in business.

It promises a fine display so we sit and watch for a while.

The temperature drops slightly as the sun fades

so we move across to the edge of the fell to see what effect the sun's rays are having on the valley.

The high cloud starts to take on the colours of the setting sun.

Behind us the direct sunlight illuminates Binsey summit for the last time today.

A burst of light as the sun fills the gap between the clouds.

Late sunlight over Bassenthwaite Lake.

The sun takes on deeper hues as it drops in the sky . . . and as we drop down the fell side.

A final burst of colour lights up the underside of many of the clouds . . .

. . . and then it was gone.

A cool breeze wafts gently across our faces now,

just that little bit cooler it seems after the setting of the sun.

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Technical note: Pictures taken with either Ann's Canon Sureshot SX220 or my Samsung mobile phone camera.

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

This site best viewed with . . . a successful afternoon shopping and walking.

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

Previous walk - 14th November 2014 - Tunnel vision with Gareth

A previous time up here - 11th June 2010 Binsey and Birdsong

Next walk - 18 / 24 th November 2014 - Darling Fell for Ann

Late add:   The distillery is now fully open and accepting visitors - 30th January 2017 - Lake Distillery Visit and Lunch

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