England-Scotland Day 14 (Part 3) – Tea time at Inn On the Lake (Ullswater) and evening at Crow Park (Keswick)

16 April 2010

After expending energy on a 2 hour walk at the Aira Force trail, time for replenishment. What could be better than having an afternoon tea at the Inn on the Lake located on the shores of Ullswater.

There was a wedding event there but the restaurant was not closed to public. We chose to sit outside, on the garden terrace overlooking the gardens and lake, as we felt a little under-dressed in our casuals, compared the wedding guests who were dressed to kill…hats, feathers and all.

Sneak photo of the wedding guests at Inn On the Lake, Ullswater.

Watching the wedding photo shoot.

Afternoon tea by the lake, Ullswater.

After our tea, we took a walk on the beautiful grounds of Inn on the Lake and sat on a bench to enjoy the sun and view of Ullswater.

Inn On the Lake in the background.

Jetty at Ullswater, Lake District.

Ullswater, Lake District.

After lazing at Ullswater, we continued our day lazing at Crow Park, Keswick. This was the last evening of our stay in the Lake District and we really like Crow Park and views of Derwent Water.

Derwent Water as seen from Crow Park, Keswick.

Last look at Derwent Water on our last evening in the Lake District.

Geese at Derwent Water, Keswick.

We would be leaving Lake District the next day. Our next destination would be the city of Liverpool where we would be spending 3 days.

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Christmas Eve at Waterhead Hotel, Ambleside, Lake District

24 December 2012

We have booked a special package to stay for a few days over the Christmas period at the Waterhead Hotel located in Ambleside, Lake District. The program starts on Christmas Eve where we were to arrive and settled into the hotel in the early afternoon.

The drive from Liverpool was quite fast and uneventful. This was my second visit to the Lake District, being here before in Spring 2010. I was hoping to see some snow but we were too early in the season for snow. All we got was the wet winter weather.

Upon arrival, we were showed our rooms and then a traditional Lakeland afternoon tea was served in the Bar and Lounge area.

 Afternoon tea at the Waterhead Hotel just after arrival.

Our room at Waterhead Hotel in Ambleside.

Sam the dog welcomed us into our room. We are to placed it on the door as a “do not disturb” sign.

Great view of Lake Windermere and Ambleside pier from our rooms.

The evening program was a four-course Christmas Eve dinner, complete with wine and Christmas crackers at the table.

Pre-dinner drinks at the bar.

Christmas Eve dinner about to be served.

Our main course.

After dinner, the hotel organised a Casino Royale event where we had a chance to mingle with the other guests while trying our luck at various casino games like roulette, blackjack and bingo. We were each given some “money” to play and exchange for chips. There were prizes for the top 3 persons who won the most “money”.

We got to know some other guests and had a fun time. Our black-jack dealer was actually a pro who have worked in many casinos round the world. Nice to hear some insights of what he does for a living.

My luck (or skill) at Blackjack was not bad. Won a pile of chips but not enough to win a prize.

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Christmas Morning at Ambleside on the bank of Lake Windermere

25 December 2012

Christmas Day!  I woke up early to shoot some early morning photos of Lake Windermere. A fine mist hung over the calm lake and there was a light drizzle. I figured it was best to just shoot from the window of my room at the Waterhead Hotel instead of going out into the rain with my gear.

Lake Windermere in the morning mist.

Ambleside Pier viewed from the bedroom at Waterhead Hotel.

When we went down for breakfast, we were greeted by Santa offering us a a glass of Buck Fizz and Christmas gifts.

Going down the stairs to the breakfast area.

Staff at the hotel dressed as Santa welcoming us at the breakfast room.

Christmas stocking with our Christmas gifts from the hotel. One for each person.

View of Lake Windermere and Ambleside pier from breakfast room. Still drizzling and we were supposed to go for a morning walk after breakfast!

Christmas Day Breakfast at the hotel.

Breakfast on Christmas morning at Waterhead Hotel.

We were blessed. The drizzle stopped after our breakfast. The hotel had organised a traditional Christmas morning walk for the guests to enjoy the stimulating and invigorating Lakeland air.  We somehow got the timing slightly wrong and hence missed the hotel-organised morning walk around Ambleside. They left without us.

It turned out to be blessing in disguise as it gave us an opportunity to go for a walk on our own.

We went to the nearby Borrans Park and that was where I could take my time to shoot some fantastic photographs of Lake Windermere.  Something that I would not be able to do if I was with the party from the hotel. The lighting conditions in the morning after the drizzle was perfect. Perfectly calm waters and misty lake.

Here are of the photos we shot.

Panorama of the boats on Lake Windermere on Christmas morning.

Close-up of the boats.

I just love the pictures of the boats on the still water. Especially this one with a dash of red in the hull to provide the accent.

Still and calm conditions to provide a mirror lake.

Ducks in formation on serene Lake Windermere.

View of the mountains from Borrans Park, Ambleside, Lake District.

View of Waterhead Hotel from Borrans Park, Ambleside, Lake District.

Father and son team on slippery lakeside rocks.

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The White Moss Walk to Lake Grasmere and Christmas lunch at the Waterhead Hotel, Ambleside at Lake District.

25 December 2012

After our morning walk at Borrans Park, we went back to our hotel to take our car and drove a few miles towards Grasmere.

The short and easy White Moss Walk starts from the car park off the main A591 road between Ambleside and Grasmere and leads to shore of Lake Grasmere. The weather was just perfect for a morning walk and also perfect for photographers.

White Moss Walk at the Lake District England.

On the White Moss Walk trail to Lake Grasmere.

Moss on the tree along the White Moss trail. The moss was definitely not white.

After a easy short walk through the wooded area, we reached a gate in a stone wall at the back edge of the wood. River Rothay is the background. Going through the gates, we were in Penny Rock Woods

River Rothay is the background.

Up and down Penny Rock Woods and crossing a small bridge, we arrived at the shores of Lake Grasmere.

First look at Lake Grasmere and out comes the camera phones.

Weir where water from the lake drains down into the River Roythay that we saw along the trail.

Low clouds drifting slowly on top of the lake adds to the charming view of the lake in winter.

 Panorama of Lake Grasmere.

This was how far up I went to shoot the panorama of Lake Grasmere. The actual White Moss Walk trail will lead walkers up to the top. I bet the view will be fantastic but I am in no shape to get up further.

A footpath continues round the lake but we had a Christmas lunch lined up back at our hotel (Waterhead Hotel) at 12:45 PM. So we did not have time to go completely round the lake. Instead, the boys spent some time playing with the water…crazy idea to see who can put their hands into the icy cold water and keep it in there longer.

Feeling the icy cold waters of the lake.

After the walk, we returned to Ambleside to relax by the pier while waiting for the Waterhead Hotel to serve the traditional traditional six course Christmas Day lunch.  

Party hats and more Christmas crackers. Quite fun to see some of the older local folks clowning around with their plastic Christmas rattles, balloons and whistles during breakfast. All in good fun and high spirits.

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Lazy Christmas afternoon and evening at the Waterhead Hotel at Ambleside, Lake District

25 December 2012

After the traditional six course Christmas Day lunch served by the Waterhead Hotel with all the trimmings, the locals settled in the bar to watch the Queen’s speech televised at 3 PM. We had no interest in the Queen’s speech, so we went out to enjoy the beauty of the Lake District around Ambleside.

Waterhead Hotel at Ambleside, Lake District.

Ambleside Pier just outside the hotel.

In winter, the day was short and sky started getting dark at about 4.30 PM. It was interesting to take photos during this period of dusk in winter.

From this..

to this…...

We went back to Borrans Park to shoot the dusk scene of Lake Windermere and Ambleside.

Ducks at shore of Lake Windermere, Lake District.

Night view of the Waterhead Hotel, Lake District.

Evening was relaxed and informal and an ideal opportunity to enjoy a drink or two at the bar while waiting for the Gala buffet dinner to be served at 7.30 PM.

Bar area at Waterhead Hotel.

Cheerful staff at the Waterhead Hotel. Cheerful Santa this morning. Now a Bartender by night.

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