Storm Arwen
Well, that certainly wasn’t the weekend I was expecting or had in mind. I had train tickets booked to Manchester with my friend Bethany, so we could enjoy the Christmas markets, eat some nice food, buy some Christmas presents and just treat ourselves.. but most the trains were cancelled and we missed the only one that was running, which I’m kind of glad about because it doesn’t look like we’d have made it home! So instead we treated ourselves to breakfast at the Farmhouse Kitchen in Kendal, walked round the shops and had a little ride out to Ambleside. By 3pm I was shattered and ready for a cup of tea and a lie down. No sure how I would have ever managed a whole day in Manchester!
On Sunday I’d planned to get up really early, pre sunrise, for a walk in the Lakes but obviously due to the weather the roads weren’t great so we stuck to the good old Howgills, right on our door step and had a wander up on to Arant Haw. It was so slippy most of the way up but once we got to where the thick snow was it was so magical. I just hope it snows like this on Christmas Day because it’s our first year hosting and I want it to be extra special this year! It was tough going, I haven’t been on a proper walk in so long, I felt out of touch with it. The best part is when you get back down and you go to the pub or a cafe and order something sweet and warm, like hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows and a huge bowl of cheesy chips with sweet chilli sauce. Yep, that was my order at Smatt’s Duo cafe in Sedbergh, the perfect after walk combo.
Josh and Dan with Arant Haw in the background
Mum, Dad and Erik at the top of Arant Haw. Great timing with the little love heart snow flake on Erik’s cheek.
Mum and I at the top of Arant Haw
Snow covered Howgill Lane
Mum and a ginormous hot chocolate in Smatt’s Duo