Walking & The Outdoors

We are blessed with a number of stunning bluebell walks in Cumbria and these are a few of our favourites. The best thing about such a prolonged winter is that spring is all the sweeter, and the colours always seem just that little bit brighter. After the whites of the snowdrops, the yellows of the daffodils, and the assortment of rich red hues of the tulips comes the ethereal blues of the bluebells. From a distance they appear as a glorious blue haze carpeting the floor of the woodlands and a walk through a bluebell wood on a late spring day is the perfect way to banish the last of the winter blues. Epic bluebell walks: Rannerdale This place has probably the most famous bluebell walks in Cumbria and, as bluebell season approaches, social media is busy with people checking if they’re open yet. That’s the thing with bluebells: their display is stunning yet so fragile, and you have to be quick to catch them at their best. The interesting thing about the Rannerdale Bluebells is that they’re not in a woodland at all but instead they spread across an open hillside on the banks of Crummock Water. There are a number of nearby car parks and fairly easy footpaths leading to, and through, the carpet of bluebells, plus there are usually a few Herdwick lambs around as well, just to make things absolutely perfect. One word of caution: please stick to the existing paths and resist the urge to wander through the bluebells themselves as this will damage and kill them.   Local walks for bluebells: Dorothy Farrer’s Spring Wood This stunning hillside wood is near Staveley, just a short jaunt from our Herdy HQ in Kendal. This site is managed by Cumbria Wildlife Trust and in the late spring is a breathtaking mix of bluebells and garlic. It’s tucked away so doesn’t see many visitors but be warned: the hillside is pretty steep but it is worth every single breathless step to see them. This is also an excellent example of an old coppiced woodland associated with the charcoal and bobbin industries in the county, and there are around five old charcoal kilns still identifiable on the site. There’s also a waterfall that would once have been an important source of water; today it simply adds to the beauty of the place. Quiet bluebell walks: Barkbooth Lot This is another tucked away gem on the route from Herdy HQ to Windermere and so few people visit that there’s a really good chance you’ll have the place to yourselves. It’s a site of two halves: one half is a lovely ancient woodland where, come May, the floor is carpeted with bluebells; the other half is open heathland where you’ll be able to spot cowslip and wild orchids. There are clear and relatively easy paths winding around both parts of the reserve and it’s the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of life and hear nothing but the birds in the trees and the stream running by.   Bluebell walks with variety: White Moss Common You’re unlikely to find solitude here but you will find beautiful bluebells. The woodland is sandwiched between Rydal Water and Grasmere and is a very popular spot for fans of bluebell walks. You can take a gentle stroll through the woods or, if you’re feeling more adventurous, follow one of the longer trails, either leading around the nearby lakes or along the macabre sounding Coffin Trail (which recently featured in Britain’s Best Walks). Once you’re done with the walking you can visit nearby Grasmere for well earned tea, cakes and, of course, a visit to our lovely Herdy shop.

Although the weather may have been unseasonably cold this year, with winter rudely intruding into spring, this doesn’t affect some of the other rhythms of nature. Lambing in the Lake District continues regardless of the rain and snow, and there are plenty of places to see lambs. This provides an additional headache for fell farmers who need to make sure that vulnerable ewes and their young offspring are properly cared for in the rough conditions.  Further reading: Lambing Time On A Herdwick Farm Herdwick sheep are known to be one of the toughest breeds on the fells (mountains), and can withstand most of what Mother Nature throws at them, but even they need a helping hand from time to time. Herdwicks lamb later in the season, too, which also helps.  There is nothing sweeter than watching a flock of jet black Herdwick lambs gambolling around the fields in the spring sunshine. They are especially cute when they begin to moult the dark fur from their faces and look as if they’re wearing balaclavas! So here are some of the best places around the Lake District to spot them. Places to see lambs: Buttermere The sign in the photo at the top of this post is popular on social media at this time of year and it sits next to the road near Buttermere where there are plenty of beautiful bouncing Herdwicks to see. In Buttermere you will find several small carparks (and a nice pub), and there are walks to suit whatever mood you’re in. For those who enjoy a gentle flat stroll then a lap of the lake is in order, and there’s a clear path the whole way around.  Scale Force, the highest waterfall in the Lake District, is nearby on the shores of Crummock Water and if you fancy something a little more challenging then try Rannerdale Knotts; the views from the top are amazing. Of course, if all of the bouncing baby Herdwicks leave you feeling a little bit broody, then you can stop by our shop in Keswick on your way home and pick up a gorgeous little Herdy of your own. More Herdwick lambs: Grasmere There are dozens of beautiful walks around the lake and surrounding fells, and you can even visit the largest lamb in Cumbria. Technically it’s not really a lamb; it’s a rocky outcrop on top of nearby Helm Crag known as “The Lion and the Lamb”, but if you look up at it from the A591 as you approach the village you’ll see how it got its name. It really does look like a lion laying down with a lamb nestled peacefully between its front paws.  One of our favourite walks from the Herdy shop in Grasmere village is to follow the route towards Easedale valley and up to Easedale Tarn. Along the way you’ll pass the stunning waterfalls of Sourmilk Gill, and the banks of the tarn itself is a perfectly peaceful place to rest, reflect, and enjoy a well earned flask of tea with a slice of cake. The local fields are full of Herdwicks busy growing the beautiful thick fleeces that make our Herdysleep mattresses so luxuriously comfortable. Places to see lambs: Ullswater Did you know that the wool for our new Herdysleep mattress comes from the Herdwicks of Ullswater? For the finest Herdwick sheep take a visit to Dockray, it’s just a stone’s throw from Ullswater and is where the Herdwick Supreme Champion from last year’s Patterdale show lives. The area is perfect for Herdwicks, with lots of local fells for them to explore and plenty of low level grazing for those tricky winter months. The most popular walk in the area is nearby Aira Force but, if the weather’s good and you’re well kitted out, take a hike from the village out onto Clough Head where you can enjoy spectacular views of Blencathra. There is also a clear and lovely footpath around Gowbarrow Park, which takes in the summit of Gowbarrow Fell; it’s a great family walk and the views of Ullswater from the summit make all the effort worthwhile. Where do ewe go? Is there a favourite spot of yours to see Herdwick lambs? Managed to snap any good photos of them? Let's chat in the comments below; you can also join the flock and share your piccies with us on our Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or email us.

There are several places in Cumbria to visit and see spectacular displays of daffodils, and the beauty of all of them is that they are in easily accessible places for daffodil walks and usually have a nice café nearby. There are a few people who are inextricably linked by history to the Lake District: Beatrix Potter, Alfred Wainwright and, of course, William Wordsworth. Despite writing dozens of beautiful poems it is his best known piece I Wondered Lonely as a Cloud which has most captured people’s imagination over the generations. Perhaps one of the reasons we love it so much is because we can all identify with the joy he feels at seeing “…a host, of golden daffodils” on a warm spring day in the sunshine; after the monochrome drama of winter, the bright yellow trumpets bring a welcome splash of colour to the countryside. Get your neck warmer on because here are our top three daffodil walks in the Lake District. Wordsworth Daffodil Walks: Ullswater Although there are no absolute certainties, the most likely spot for the original daffodils which inspired the poem is Glencoyne Bay on Ullswater. The story goes that William and his sister Dorothy had been our walking “…in the woods beyond Gowbarrow Park” and were making their way home to Grasmere on a rather blustery day when they discovered the daffodils along the shoreline. There are no easy circular walks along the shores of the lake but there is a very nice National Trust car park and café at the foot of Aira Force, and from there you can wander down to the foreshore to visit the daffodils. For a more active afternoon take the steamer from Glenridding to the pier at Aira Force and, after admiring the daffodils, follow the Ullswater Way back to the village for a well earned coffee and cake. Rydal Daffodil Walks: Dora's Field Sticking with the Wordsworth theme, the poet originally bought this field next to St Mary’s Church after a minor spat with his neighbour when he’d threatened to build a house on the land for his daughter Dora. In the end, the house was never built but when Dora tragically died of tuberculosis, he planted hundreds of daffodil bulbs in the field in her memory. There are a number of local footpaths in the area but for a popular circular route follow the old Coffin Route towards Grasmere (recently featured as one of Britain’s Favourite Walks), then cross the footbridge at the far end of Rydal Water and return along the track beneath Loughrigg. Just remember to take your camera with you as the views on a sunny day are magnificent.   Stock Ghyll – Ambleside Although a little hillier than the other two walks, you get plenty of stunning views in exchange for a little effort and shoe leather. The route is well marked out of Ambleside: leaving the village from near the Salutation Hotel, it initially follows the road before the track drops away into the woodland on the left. In March these woods are chock full of beautiful daffodils and numerous different routes criss-cross the area so you can pick the one which best suits you. As well as the daffodils there are stunning waterfalls to enjoy too; at the lower end of the woods a beautiful arced curtain of water falls from a still pool and offers the perfect excuse to pause and catch your breath. If you push up further into the woods you’ll find Stockghyll Force, where the water thunders down to dramatic effect. There are a number of excellent viewing spots on both sides of the falls but just be sure to watch your footing and don’t be tempted to lean too far over trying to get that perfect shot. Where do ewe go to see daffodils? Do you have favourite walks of your own? Let's share walks! Chat in the comments below or join the flock on our Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or email us.

While we all may have a slightly different idea about what romance means, surely a peaceful stroll hand in hand as the sun sets would feature high on many of our lists. The Lake District is crammed with secluded spots and romantic retreats so we’ve picked out three of our favourite Lake District romantic walks to share: one hill, one lake, and one stretch of coastline. All you need now is the perfect person to take with you. Romantic fell walks: Orrest Head, Lake District This is a short but very straightforward walk from Windermere; ask in the visitor's centre for a map or follow the clear and waymarked route from the main road. This is one of the finest and most famous walks in the whole of the Lake District; in 1930 a young Alfred Wainwright walked to the top of Orrest Head and instantly fell in love with the Lake District and its magnificent views. There’s a lovely dedication to him at the summit and plenty of benches where you can snuggle up and enjoy a flask of tea or a cheeky hot toddy as you admire the views.  In front of you are the Coniston Fells sweeping around to the Langdale Pikes in the distance. Below you the lake disappears down towards Morecambe Bay in the south and on a clear day you can see for miles.  Unless you’re used to being out on the fells it’s not a great idea to get stuck up there after dark, but in this case the route down is mostly tarmac and is well marked so, as long as you take a torch with you, you should be fine. Romantic lake walks: Coniston, Lake District We’re very fond of a trip to Coniston in the evenings and sometimes we take along a picnic, or a disposable BBQ so we can enjoy a romantic supper whilst watching the sun go down. Lots of folk might prefer a nice restaurant but around Valentine’s Day they’re generally crammed, so how about escaping the crowds and giving yourself time to enjoy a little bit of peace and quiet. As you drive along the eastern side of the lake there are a lots of places to pull in and a variety of lovely woodland walks to enjoy before dinner (you should be able to easily spot them on an OS Map).  If you’re feeling more adventurous there are a number of popular local wild swimming spots along there too – make sure you have a wetsuit with you as it’s particularly fresh this time of year!  The stone beaches are the best place for your BBQ so the heat doesn’t damage any of the local wildlife habitats, and do remember to take all your litter away with you afterwards.   Romantic coastal walks: Arnside, Cumbria Arnside is right in the south of Cumbria and well outside the National Park, but it’s hard to beat for its spectacular sunsets and it has all the ingredients for the perfect romantic stroll. From the village you can take a gentle walk along the estuary for as far as you feel comfortable and during the late afternoon and early evenings, especially in the spring, you will be serenaded by curlews and oystercatchers as flocks of migrating birds pass by overhead (it’s one of the most important migratory spots in Europe).  Once you’re all walked out, there are a couple of fine pubs in the village where you can get hot food and good beer or, if you prefer to stay out and enjoy the sunset, go and grab a bag of chips from the local chip shop and bag a bench on the pier to enjoy the show.   Where's your favourite natural romantic spot? Do ewe have a preferred romantic walk in nature you like to take? Share with us in the comments below, or join the flock on our Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or email us.