The Lakes Tour

Sep 05, 2005

We’ve just got back from a ringing tour of The Lakes. Chris and I organised it, which took a very long time. But it was worth it and every one enjoyed themselves.

We headed to the lakes on Saturday stopping at three towers on the outskirts on the way up (Burton in Kendal, Milnthorpe and Heversham). We had found three cabins in Hawkshead which we thought would be a good base for the holiday. The site was small with just those three cabins on it – so we had quite a large area to ourselves. They had wonderful views of the hills and were very close to the town centre.

When everyone had arrived at the cabins we headed into Hawkshead for food and drinks, luckily we weren’t starting too early Sunday morning. We’d got the time wrong for the Sunday service ringing at Hawkshead so most people didn’t make it in time – I managed to get a grab though! We had three towers Sunday afternoon, so not too much of a stressful day. We started at Ambleside which I’ve already rung at, then (Brathay. My favourite on Sunday was definitely Langdale (Chapel Stile), which is somewhere I could imagine living in the future.

We’d arranged to have a day off on the bank holiday Monday as we guessed the traffic wouldn’t be brilliant. We took the minibus down to Cartmel to drop some people off at the races and then some of us went up to Keswick for the day. James and I bought Kites and we had a good go with them on the hill near hope park, Chris spent his time running between them and launching whoever had crashed. There’s a lot of sheep in that field and the kite got a little… green. We attempted a quarter of plain bob triples at Hawkshead in the evening but unfortunately two bells crossed over… which we didn’t find out until the very end! That happened last time we attempted it at Bridlington so I think we’re doomed not to get that!

On Tuesday we had a very long day, starting off fairly early at Cartmel and Flookburgh, and a dash across to Ulverston. All nice 6’s. We then had a four hour break before ringing at Kirkby in Furness and then joining the practice at Dalton in Furness. We got lunch in Ulverston and then drove to Barrow in Furness as it looked like a good spot to find things to do. Some of the group went round the Dock Museum while the others went shopping and explored the town. It wasn’t a huge hit… and most people have decided not to go back there! The bit we looked round was very nice though, and I’d like to spend more time looking round Walney Island. After we met up again we went ringing at Kirkby and then on to the practice in Dalton. It was pretty awful as everyone was tired and really hungry. Heather went to the pub and reported back that the kitchen shut at 8.30 – while practice didn’t finish till 9. Some managed to escape but the guy in charge wouldn’t let most of us go! By the time we got out the kitchen had closed and we had a mile walk to get some chips. I don’t think we’ll be going back there!

Wednesday we did more northerly towers starting at Cockermouth. It was a fairly long drive to get up there but all the towers were close together. Bridekirk (the second tower) was in need of a little tlc, I don’t think there’s a local band and the bells were a bit of a handful. Aspatria bells were nice and the ringing chamber was lovely. The church at Workington is amazing, there was a fire there about 10 years ago which completely destroyed the inside. It’s been re-built and is wonderful, there’s even a lift part way up to the ringing chamber! The bells are very nice too and I enjoyed ringing there. After Workington we’d arranged to ring at Keswick – one of Chris and my favourite towers. Bob Clarke, the ringing master there, stayed around and called us some “Crossthwaite Surprise” – a sequence of call changes, which every one enjoyed. After that we all went to Ambleside for a group curry. We’d managed to budget it into the holiday which was a nice surprise for everyone when the bill came.

Thursday we started off in the southern lakes again at Broughton in Furness, I’ve rung there before but not on the full 12. They’re very light so we were surprised by how nice they are to ring. Another tower I could definitely move near! After that it was more grabs for me with Irton (which doesn’t appear on most maps!), Cleator Moor and St Bees. We went to the sea-side at St Bees for some more kite flying and sandcastle making. Then went to Whitehaven for some fish and chips (or patty and chips for me).

Friday was the last day of ringing and we started of at Bowness, which we got to by crossing on the Ferry. I’d not rung the 8 there so that was interesting. Then it was Crossthwaite (not the one near Keswick) a very, very nice ring of bells, Kendal – a lovely 10, and finished up at Sedbergh. As we finished early in the afternoon we spent some time in the pub there before several people left – we stayed till Saturday but those with furthest to travel went off from there. Friday night we spent in the Queens Head in Hawkshead – very nice food.

All in all it was a very nice holiday, although it took a lot to organise. I think next year we might do a weekend away – and give ourselves a break! Unless someone else wants to organise it of course!