The Brackenrigg Ramble

Just another manic Monday

2012-01-16T13:50:00.001-08:00

Blencathra from High Rigg

Skiddaw from High Rigg

Tig on High Rigg

Bleaberry Fell from High Rigg

Her again....

Tarn on High Rigg

Helvellyn and Thirlmere from High Rigg
(High Rigg is the low fell just across from Brackenrigg, it's a favourite walk.....as you can probably tell!)

Stunning Winter walking

2012-01-16T13:41:00.001-08:00

Saturday 14th January, Blencathra. Quite simply, perfect.

More snow

2011-12-22T11:26:00.000-08:00

A further few inches fell at Brackenrigg - it's gone now, but these were the scenes first thing in the morning a few days ago...

2011-12-22T11:14:00.000-08:00

The December snows created just beautiful vistas. These pics were taken from atop the small fell opposite Brackenrigg. It is called 'High Rigg', is really accessible and provides a real sense of space and panoramic views.

Here's Tewet's Tarn, and the view up towards Great Calva, between Lonscale Fell (the Eastern flank of Skiddaw) and Blease Fell (the Western flank of Blencathra)

This one is Skiddaw, from the same spot.
...and Blencathra
Clough Head had lost the sun, which was still shining on these sheep on High Rigg

Autumn behind Brackenrigg

2011-11-08T09:25:00.001-08:00

A November morning, the sun breaks over Helvellyn....

....so we nipped up the back to take some piccies! This is the view over Brackenrigg to High Rigg.
....and Tig, posing on "Three Stones", a magical spot with great views of Skiddaw and Blencathra.

Blencanthra looking at its most beautiful!

This is Snipeshow Tarn, just above Brackenrigg. Skiddaw is in the distance.

November

2011-11-05T03:37:00.001-07:00

November comes And November goes,

With the last red berries And the first white snows.

With night coming early, And dawn coming late,

And ice in the bucket And frost by the gate.

The fires burn And the kettles sing,

And earth sinks to rest Until next spring.

- Elizabeth Coatsworth -

2011-10-20T06:28:00.000-07:00

We took Tig down to Derwentwater yesterday...a perfect Lakeland October day. The sun was warm, the air was crisp... Tig happily played in the waves.

2011-10-18T05:37:00.000-07:00

Walking isn't the only way to take a look around the area....!

2011-10-18T05:17:00.000-07:00

Early morning deer at Brackenrigg. Not the best photos, but lovely to see them

Squirrel in the veg garden

2011-05-03T03:43:00.001-07:00

Brackenrigg on an April morn

2011-04-30T01:23:00.000-07:00

Brackenrigg Woods

2011-04-25T08:13:00.000-07:00

Our woodland is home to deer, badgers, red squirrels and over 40 species of birds.

And we've created a network of paths, and a picnic area, for our guests to enjoy.

Here's a few recent pics...

2011-04-19T07:02:00.000-07:00

It's been glorious outside, so spent most of the days gardening and walking...but come the evenings I have been felt making; here are some of the latest, hope you like....

Paragliding

2011-04-18T06:18:00.001-07:00

I have always wanted to have a go at paragliding, but I am very scared of heights; despite having been a rock climber...but when you turn 50, what other excuse do you need for doing something you've always wanted in your past...but not your future!

Hmmm!

Fantastic experience, wildly exciting! We went from Bleaze Fell on Blencathra, and soared the skies, landing on the football pitch the other side of the A66 at Threlkeld. Do it again? You bet!

Big thanks to Jockey Sanderson for taking me tandem....

40 friends spend the evening on Catbells

2011-04-08T09:24:00.000-07:00

40 friends took cake and champagne up Catbells on the evening of 28th March to celebrate Judy's last day of her 40's......

Gorgeous evening, we had sunlight until 8.30pm - plenty of time for the walk, friends and family. Yummy lemon cake went well with the champagne.

Spring at last

2011-04-08T08:01:00.000-07:00

Ahhh, Spring has arrived. Black Herdwick Lambs gambolling in the fields, new leaf budding, gorgeous hot sunshine........daffodils!

Autumn 2010

2010-11-15T05:08:00.001-08:00

The footpath opposite Brackernigg looking towards The Naddle with Blencathra and Skiddaw
http://www.brackenrigg.com/activities/

The autumn view from Brackenrigg over The Dodds to Helvellyn

The beautiful old pack horse bridge over the Naddle Beck - just opposite

Summer walks around Brackenrigg

2010-11-15T05:03:00.000-08:00

Blencathra near sunset

The view from Brackenrigg of Helvellyn - very green!

This one is at dawn on the summer solstice - just before we set off for the 'solstice bike ride' to Whitehaven - bacon butteries awaiting us for breakfast!
http://www.brackenrigg.com/activities/

Some Spring Walks 2010

2010-11-15T04:53:00.000-08:00

Great Gable

Pillar Rock

http://www.brackenrigg.com/cottages/

What our guests saw........

2010-03-14T01:50:00.001-08:00

http://brackenrigg.com/cottages/

The Big Freeze!

2010-01-07T10:09:00.000-08:00

A few photos from this new year 2010.

http://www.brackenrigg.com/cottages/

2009-12-29T03:42:00.001-08:00

Well, we're having a White Christmas. Absolutely beautiful!

This is the view from above Brackenrigg:

Here's Carlside, the Western flank of Skiddaw, viewed from the Naddle valley

Some Brackenrigg conifers...

...and Helvellyn, viewed from Brackenrigg on Christmas Eve!

Views from Helvellyn at dawn

2009-12-20T02:12:00.000-08:00

A favourite walk is to ascend helvellyn from Wythburn Church. It isn't as spectacular or famous as Striding Edge, but it is a superb varied route, and the prize is the same.
Right now the mountains are snow-capped, and this is what we saw.

2009-12-15T15:58:00.000-08:00

Our nearest lake, Thirlmere, is pretty interesting. It used to be two lakes and a small community. Then, in the mid 19th century, Manchester got thirsty. So it was decided to build a dam at the Northern end of the valley. Thus two lakes became one, the pub pulled its last pint and the community was dispersed. All that remains are a couple of farms, and the shiveringly perfect Wythburn Church ... more of which later. http://www.brackenrigg.com/activities/

Anyway. The area around the new lake was forested. Clumsily. To be frank, Thirlmere wasn't our favourite lake...and yet we bought nearby Brackenrigg. It did help that the location is perfect in every other way! But those serried ranks of industrial conifers never plucked the same strings as the ancient woodlands around Derwentwater, or the gorgeous shoreline of Buttermere, or the pathways along Eastern Ullswater.

Until now. Finally, sensitivity has prevailed. Thirlmere has been undressed of its gloomy plantations, and its natural beauty is for all to see. Especially if you get out early, as the sun ascends Helvellyn's Striding Edge and smiles down upon the still dawn waters.

Yes, we love it. A walk of maybe 40 minutes through the haunting Shoulthwaite Moss, a gentle bike ride of 10 minutes occasionally spotting shy deer, or jump in the car and you're there before it's de-misted. The dam itself is a fascinating construction, typically Victorian...as are the plaques of civic pride in the taming of the valley (and drowning of the history) in order to lubricate the Mancunian mills and their pitiful toilers (including my ancestors).

The backroad is one of the finest. The main A591 carries the traffic, this just carries cyclists, forestry workers and car-bound visitors. There's a walking path along the shore itself, and carparks a-plenty. And if your legs can handle a hill, Harrop Tarn is redolent of the rather busier Yosemite.

I took this pic on my little phone camera, so technically it compares badly with the stuff preceding this which my good mate Andy Cannon shot, and it is almost embarrassing when compared to the stunning photography of Karen Sutton who, although living on the Isle of Wight, describes Brackenrigg as her second home (watch out for more of Karen's pics in the New Year, she's coming again in January) http://brackenrigg.com/cottages/

Ahem. Apologies for the ramble. Without further ado....this is Thirlmere at about 9am on a December morning.....

2009-11-29T00:16:00.000-08:00

This is the view from High Rigg across to Brackenrigg, taken on Saturday 28th November 2009.
The valley is bathed in sunshine, and there's snow on the high peaks.
Tig the Brackenrigg Dog is, as ever, centre-stage!

Keswick & the Northern Lake District has been in the news. In case you missed it, there's been floods in Workington, Cockermouth and Keswick. Pretty dreadful for many people living there

We've had a lot of guests and friends enquire whether it is ok to come to Brackenrigg.

YES IT IS!

We didn't suffer from flooding, our cottages are fine, our grounds are still lovely, the roads are open.

Yesterday we took a few pictures around the area....

Red squirrels

2009-05-06T11:25:00.001-07:00

http://brackenrigg.com/wildlife/

We've got four squirrel feeders around the grounds, and they get used daily!

Falconry at Brackenrigg

2009-04-24T00:21:00.000-07:00

We recently held a Falconry day for our guests.... they spent from 10 am until 4:30 pm flying the birds , a truly memorable day. If you'd like to come to one, call us on 017687 72258 to find out when the next one will be

Helvellyn!

2009-04-24T00:09:00.000-07:00

A fantastic walk up Helvellyn, starting at the recently-restored Wythburn Church

Christmas at Brackenrigg

2009-04-23T23:43:00.000-07:00

Well, it wasn't white, but it was absolutely beautiful!

Christmas in the Lake District

2008-12-30T00:06:00.000-08:00

.....well it wasn't a white one this year. We've been here for eight Christmasses now, and had some snow on ( I think) three of those.

But we weren't disappointed, oh no..... the weather has been absolutely perfect for a week now.

Here's Christmas Day around Brackenrigg....

2008-12-20T00:31:00.000-08:00

We're dreaming of a white Christmas!

High Rigg & Thirlmere

2008-12-16T14:57:00.000-08:00

Two more fantastic pictures sent to us by recent guests, one looking directly from Brackenrigg at the low fell opposite, High Rigg. It often looks like this in the evening.

The other picture is the view down Thirlmere south towards the old Cumberland/Westmorland boundary of Dunmail Raise. (Grasmere is just beyond).

Holidaymakers tend to see the Lake District as a single socio-geographical entity. When you live here, you realise that it isn't! Grasmere is only 10 minutes in the car from Brackenrigg, but the locals see it as a different world!

Thirlmere, Helvellyn & Brackenrigg

2008-12-13T04:38:00.001-08:00

One of our regular guests, Karen Sutton, has just sent us some fantastic pics she took here .....

Bleaberry, where Karen stayed

This one is Thirlmere, our nearest lake

Brackenrigg, Blencathra, Helvellyn & Skiddaw in snow

2008-12-09T01:36:00.000-08:00

What a fantastic weekend in the Lakes!
If you like Winter walking, it is magnificent.

if you prefer the warmer, kinder valleys ...... it was that too!
Here's some pics we took, high and low, from around Brackenrigg....

Well last weekend was just BEAUTIFUL!

Managed to get out for a couple of gorgeous walks - the valleys & low fells around Brackenrigg on Saturday, and then Blencathra at dawn on Sunday.

Recent pictures around Brackenrigg, Naddle, Cumbria

2008-11-09T06:45:00.000-08:00

These are a few pictures taken around Brackenrigg Holiday Cottages this week.

Autumn is famously lovely in the Lake District, and thisyear is no exception - in fact many people are saying that the colours are even better than usual!

Shoulthwaite Ghyll was one of Wainwright's favourite spots - it is a beautiful hidden valley just up behind brackenrigg, with gorgeous streams & waterfalls, and views towards Lonscale Fell (the eastern flank of Skiddaw) and Blencathra, and between them to the pyramidal Great Calva.

The walking in the valley is delightful, and extremely peaceful -somedays there's as many deer as humans!