The Lake District - Pooley Bridge

 It was a lovely sunny morning as we awoke for the last time in Coniston. We fed Misty and breakfasted on porridge before packing up and setting off for our next destination. After a thorough search of availability in the area we were headed for Waterfoot Holiday village in Pooley Bridge. We had booked in there for three nights and then would move again to who knows where. We are nomads. Sir Georgie took us past Kendal and on to the M6, and who were we to argue with these narrow Lake District roads. I did argue when he tried to veer off onto ‘road’ just before Pooley Bridge and directed Ian myself. Turns out we had entered Waterside caravan park by mistake! 

Waterfoot holiday park is a chalet park with a touring field. The lady in the reception was very pleasant though, directing us to pitch 8 where we quickly set up shop and had some lunch. As I sat eating I noticed a creature under a tree. Looking closely I could see that it was a red squirrel! Apparently they are rife here. It was a very pleasant surprise nevertheless. It began to rain heavily around this time but the sun soon came out and we set off to walk into town. Waterfoot park has some very nice self catering cottages and a mansion where there is a, sadly closed, bar. It also has a lovely view over the lake.

From the mansion

We wandered down a path from the mansion, apparently on the ullswater way, to the road below. There Ian stepped in a big bog in the knowledge that his new shoes (those new shoes that are exactly the same as all his old shoes that he is going to throw away imminently) are waterproof. Turns out they are not at all waterproof and he got soaking wet feet! 

A path leads through the woods from here to the new bridge, saving a walk along a narrow road with no pavement. It’s a pleasant path with nice glimpses of the lake.

View from the path

The new bridge in Pooley bridge was built after storm Desmond in 2015. It’s a metal one and not as nice as the old one but it gets you over the river. Misty had a swim in the river before we crossed but I was a bit worried as the current was so strong I thought she would be swept away! On the other side we could see people sat outside some very pleasant restaurants and cafes.

Cafes and the New Bridge

We had a look round the town, which didn’t take long, before taking a walk along the side of Ullswater. It was a bit moody looking, apparently there’s a storm coming, but the views down to Skiddaw and his mates were glorious. We also came across our old friend Waterside campsite. 

Moody Ullswater

By this time we were hungry so we headed for The Secret Garden, one of the restaurants we had seen from the other side of the river. We opted to sit inside. The ambience was lovely as were the staff, who didn’t seem to mind that Misty left a huge wet patch on the floor. The food was also really nice. I couldn’t decide between a Campari Spritz or a Limocello Spritz, eventually settling on the Campari. The young man serving us was horrified that he had to come back and tell me they had neither. I settled on a Pimms instead.

Pimms

After a thoroughly pleasant evening we retraced our steps through the deep dark wood and, avoiding the bog, back up to Waterfoot Park. Throughout all our wandering around here I don’t think we had seen another soul. It’s very quiet. There was just time to watch bake off (They made layer cake!!) and House of Games, before turning in for the night. Not sure what we will do tomorrow. There’s a storm coming.

  OS Watch

Neighbour watch

Not seen a soul. So I will count the couple in The Secret Garden who ate no food, just kept ordering large glasses of red wine. Why not buy a bottle?!

Dinner watch

We both thoroughly enjoyed our meals. Ian had a sausage stuffed chicken breast, unusual and tasty, but it had a fennel sauce he didn’t like. 7.5/10. I had sea bass with a crispy skin. Delicious. 8/10. We finished off by sharing a sundae.

Sea Bass

Sausage stuffed chicken

Sundae