| Name of walk | Wray Castle & Orrest Head |
| Date of walk | 2017-11-05 |
For Brendan’s birthday we decided to to stay at the Miller Howe Hotel on the side of Lake Windermere, a renowned foodie establishment, and visit Claife Viewing Station, Wray Castle and Orrest Head. Three places Brendan had never been to. Thankfully the weather was excellent, we were blessed with yet another blue sky day!
We parked at Ash Landing and walked towards Claife Viewing Station.
The Windermere shore line.
Looking over to the Freshwater Biological Association building next to the ferry landing.
Looking up to the viewing station which dates from the 1790's. It has reopened in the last two years with a cafe below.
View through the ground floor windows.
The top floor viewing platform.
The view through one of the windows.
The other window pointing south.
Looking towards HIgh St. with Froswick, Ill Bell and Yoke.
Birthday boy!
The colours from the stained glass reflected on the tree trunk.
We drive on to Wray Castle. It is not a real castle but a private house built in the gothic style in 1840, and is now owned by the National Trust. Wray Castle used to be used by the Freshwater Biological Association. Beatrix Potter has also stayed here.
Panorama view from the terrace taking in the Langdale Pikes to the Fairfield Horseshoe. Left click to enlarge,click again to return.
Close up of the Langdale Pikes.
The terrace on the left has numerous picnic tables to enjoy the views from. The grounds contain a number of specimen trees: Wellingtonia, Giant Redwood, Gingkoa, Weeping Lime and varieties of Beech. There is a Mulberry Tree planted by William Wordsworth in 1845. Watbarrow Wood is the wooded bank between the castle and the lake, and has several pleasant paths leading through it to the water's edge.
We walk down to the boat house. There is a steam boat moored at the jetty.
It is now getting up some steam.
We head north along the shoreline.
Goosander.
Fairfield Horseshoe.
The steam boat is now on the lake.
Inside Wray Castle we have coffee and cake in the cafe, then have a look around.
First floor landing.
Billiard Room..... Colonel Mustard with the candlestick is my guess!
The vast number of rooms in Wray Castle are geared to children's activities....dressing up rooms with costumes, a Mad Hatter's tea party room (plastic food), play rooms for younger children etc. There are some rooms with history info and some for adult relaxation.
The Scandale Horseshoe. We head to the Miller Howe Hotel, park, and take the footpath that takes you to the Windermere road for the track up to Orrest Head.
Heading through the woods.
The final bit of ascent.
The view! it is only a forty minute walk from the hotel, and very easy walking. There has been a new plaque added since my last visit.
View south into the sun. Sunset is in under an hour.
Troutbeck Tongue in the middle.
We head back to the hotel. Our room has a balcony looking out over Lake Windermere.
View out from inside.
Very quaint, but I'd have preferred a standing shower!
We have a cream tea in the conservatory.
We watch the sunset.
Our room is top right.
I explore the grounds.
Looking into the dining room.
Final sunset view from our room.
A five course meal was include in the price. This was the third course.
Dawn over Lake Windermere.
The sunshine was gone to be replaced by low cloud and mist.
After breakfast we took a walk down to the lake shore.
It was very still.
One of many boat houses.
We had a great time. The hotel has some really good deals. The food was excellent.
Jo.
