{"id":871,"date":"2009-04-26T16:21:27","date_gmt":"2009-04-26T15:21:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ablogfrommydog.com\/contents1a\/?p=871"},"modified":"2009-04-28T07:40:57","modified_gmt":"2009-04-28T06:40:57","slug":"we-go-in-search-of-bluebells","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ablogfrommydog.com\/contents1a\/2009\/04\/we-go-in-search-of-bluebells\/","title":{"rendered":"We go in search of Bluebells …"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dad has been very busy over the last 10 days and we have been unable to get our usual walks however, today we went in search of bluebells near to Buttermere.<\/p>\n

\"Tek<\/a>
Tek Care lambs on't road<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mum wanted a few pictures of bluebells for an article she is writing over on oldvarieties<\/a> and after a quick search on the web we came across a location where a whole valley is reportedly filled with these small flowers.<\/p>\n

Our arrival in to the\u00a0Rannerdale valley<\/a> started as we passed by this sign. \u00a0The rugged mountains surrounding Crummock Water provided a great backdrop for \u00a0our walk and dad was eager to take some pictures.<\/p>\n

Although the sun was shining the air was a little cool and mum and dad both had their coats on. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Finding a car park a little way further along this road we parked up and set off following signs to the valley.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A lakeland sheep<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It didn’t take long before we came across our first local inhabitant. \u00a0<\/p>\n

With a dark thick coat this sheep took a moment to look up as we past by, then resumed eating the lush green grass just as dad got the camera focused. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Many sheep, found on the fellsides in Lakeland are\u00a0Herdwicks.\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Without our sheep recognition books we were unsure as to what breed this one was.<\/p>\n

\"Secret<\/a>
Charlie leads the way ...<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The herdwick is well suited to the rough scrub of the Lake District fells and is key to maintaining the grass length.\u00a0It is the native breed of the central and western Lake District\u00a0and live on the highest of England\u2019s mountains.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Charlie, out in front as usual, led the way as we followed the track towards the hills. \u00a0To our right was another of the common sight in the Lake District, the drystone wall<\/a>. \u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Secret<\/a>
Secret valley of the bluebells at Buttermere<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Marking\u00a0boundaries,\u00a0these walls are made from stone gathered locally and do not contain any mortar. \u00a0The waller uses his skill to pick out a stone and place it into the wall so it locks with adjacent rocks forming a solid structure.<\/p>\n

We arrive at a wooden gate with a silver sign on it after about ten minutes walk. \u00a0After a brief pause, to allow mum to read the notice, we open the gate and pass into the secret valley beyond.<\/p>\n

\"Secret<\/a>
Secret valley of the bluebells at Buttermere<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mum and dad stop and try to take in what they see. \u00a0Green grass, cascading from the mountains to our left and right, had a blue tinge as it arrived into the valley bottom. \u00a0<\/p>\n

The effect was subtle, and was brought about by thousands of \u00a0small, about 10cm high, green stems\u00a0with dainty blue flowers\u00a0peeping above the grass.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A well earned drink<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Native bluebells it would seem are a little way behind our common garden bluebells which already are into full bloom and like the daffodils starting to wither.<\/p>\n

Maybe in the next few days the blue effect will be much more pronounced.<\/p>\n

We were not short of drinks on this walk as the many streams provided ample cool refreshing water and excuses for paddles.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Footprints<\/a>
Footprints on a wooden bridge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Charlie drinks so much when he is in the big world, \u00a0 this walk was ideal for him.<\/p>\n

As we walked along the valley bottom we crossed over this wooden bridge. \u00a0Our soggy paws evidence that we had escaped the trolls<\/a> and managed to get to the otherside.<\/p>\n

Our walk started to climb ever so slightly as we ventured further up the valley. \u00a0It was unusual but is seemed that the bluebells were only in one small part of the lower valley as now were to be seen in this area.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The path narrows as we head for the hills<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mum wondered why they were there in the first place as it is normally recorded that they prefer growing conditions with shade not in the full glare of a fellside.<\/p>\n

Passing through a gate our path narrows to a single well worn track with the fells ahead and to our sides.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A gate without a wall ...<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Charlie is still out in front as if he knows where we are going. It would seem as this walk is a favourite with us dogs as many of us have reported their visits on the web.<\/p>\n

Casper<\/a> came here in 2007, and Harry<\/a>, as a young pup, visited in 2004. \u00a0Maybe you have visited then let us know via the comments section below?<\/p>\n

The path turns left after about 700m and after passing over a stile we start our decent back to the car.<\/p>\n

\"Just<\/a>
Just look at the view ...<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Our return is punctuated by two old gate uprights, complete with hinges,either side of our path but not near any wall. \u00a0<\/p>\n

This puzzles dad as he wonders why anyone would erect them in such a location. \u00a0Maybe the wall only appears to sheep but due to planning regulations is\u00a0invisible\u00a0to humans.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"This<\/a>
This is how you cross a stream ...<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Crummock Water comes into view and we take a moment to look out onto the fells and mountains. \u00a0<\/p>\n

It is 2.5 miles long, 3\/4 mile wide and 140 feet deep and is a clear, rocky bottomed lake flanked by steep fellsides of slate.\u00a0Crummock Water is owned by the National Trust.<\/a><\/p>\n

We are almost finished our walk which has taken about two hours at a\u00a0leisurely\u00a0pace and allowing for dad to take loads of photographs.<\/p>\n

\"Picnic<\/a>
Picnic lunch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mum says that you should take walking boots or strong wellies to do this walk as it is a bit soggy in places. \u00a0<\/p>\n

It is ideal for humans who don’t fancy going high on the fells but just fancy a simple walk not too far away from the car and of low risk.<\/p>\n

As with all good walks we ended with a picnic. In the basket on this occasion was \u00a0large french sticks stuffed full of cheese, ham and salad.<\/p>\n

We all shared the goodies before returning home via Buttermere and Keswick.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dad has been very busy over the last 10 days and we have been unable to get our usual walks however, today we went in search of bluebells near to Buttermere. Mum wanted a few pictures of bluebells for an article she is writing over on oldvarieties and after a quick search on the web […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":79,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5,681],"tags":[48,1204,1199,1215,616,662,415,1107,1219,904,1207,1218,1206,1210,1209,1208,1156,52,1216,1203,1211,188,528,1205,1217,1087,109,1212],"class_list":["post-871","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-expeditions","category-featured","tag-array","tag-backdrop","tag-bluebells","tag-buttermere","tag-car-park","tag-coats","tag-dad","tag-england","tag-fells","tag-flowers","tag-green-grass","tag-herdwick","tag-inhabitant","tag-lake-district","tag-lake-district-fells","tag-lakeland","tag-lambs","tag-mum-and-dad","tag-rannerdale-valley","tag-rugged-mountains","tag-scrub","tag-sheep","tag-signs","tag-thick-coat","tag-visit","tag-walk","tag-walks","tag-western-lake-district","entry","has-post-thumbnail"],"featured_image_src":null,"featured_image_src_square":null,"author_info":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/www.ablogfrommydog.com\/contents1a\/author\/admin-2\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ablogfrommydog.com\/contents1a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/871","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ablogfrommydog.com\/contents1a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ablogfrommydog.com\/contents1a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ablogfrommydog.com\/contents1a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/79"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ablogfrommydog.com\/contents1a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=871"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.ablogfrommydog.com\/contents1a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/871\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":892,"href":"https:\/\/www.ablogfrommydog.com\/contents1a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/871\/revisions\/892"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ablogfrommydog.com\/contents1a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=871"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ablogfrommydog.com\/contents1a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=871"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ablogfrommydog.com\/contents1a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=871"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}