Dear Diary: 5th January 2019 – on how to be a klutz!

It’s New Year 2019, and I thought it might be fun to write diary entries about life at Blenheim Lodge. For those interested in following us, please do: we would be delighted if you would. It would give you an idea of what to expect if you were to come and stay with us at our 4-Star B&B in Bowness on Windermere. And we would be delighted to welcome you too! Look out for Special Offers, information about things to see and do, and do feel free to ask any questions you might wish that might make your visit to the Lakes and to our home and Bed and Breakfast a great experience!

So, here is our very first Dear Diary entry. I hope you will enjoy reading it.

“Ouch!” Hand out in front of me, I only just managed to stop my fall upon a very hard place – a huge rock. What a ninny I was! Walking Course 101: one should always pay attention where one places one’s feet when out walking in the countryside. Unfortunately, I wasn’t and hence the result.

We had driven aimlessly in the early afternoon, thinking that we might go out hiking with Horatio, our energetic Great Dane. Driving past Grasmere on the A591, we thought it was as good a place as any to hit the countryside trails. A few months ago, we had aborted an attempt to reach Easedale Tarn, which is located on a high peak. We were very nearly there but a mist was coming in and the light was fading fast, so I insisted that we should turn around and walk back down whilst we could in the still decent light. This time, we thought, perhaps we’d make it up there.

It was whilst walking towards Easedale Tarn that we changed our minds. We only knew of the one way up and down – and it was relatively rocky and steep. Previous guests to Blenheim Lodge had mentioned another, less treacherous way. Thus we ambled on instead towards the Wordsworth Woodland Walks, where this great Poet Laureate once walked. Once there, we found, (not initially) the route to Easedale Tarn, and signposting to various destinations, including Helm Crag. To Helm Crag we went.

Walking was relatively easy to begin with and signposting was good. And then we came to an inverted T-junction. Should we go straight on or perpendicularly upward towards the Crag? Whilst pondering, we met a local lady who advised that the straight path led towards Easedale Tarn, our original objective, and the other to the top of Helm Crag. Both would take approximately the same amount of time to reach; and the light would be fading by the time we turned back round. Leaving us to make our decision, she and her companion headed up to Helm Crag.

My choice? Easedale Tarn. The path looked straight and not particularly difficult from where we stood. The rocky steps to Helm Crag looked . . . well, rocky. I lost the toss. Up Helm Crag we would go. Now, I think that if I hadn’t lost that toss, then I wouldn’t also have lost my footing. Basically, I wasn’t paying enough attention to my surroundings. And, of course, I could only blame myself! Lesson of the day: look before you step out! Especially when surrounded by serrated rocks that can bite!

My self-inflicted mishap isn’t serious, although it was a pain trying to wash out the grit from the scrape. It took 90 minutes to finally flush out all the grit with the help of a pair of sharp tweezers. (Thankfully I had those pointy tweezers to use!) Our guest house’s First Aid Kit came in handy, and the edge of my palm is now decoratively plastered with some antiseptic cream underneath.

Dear Diary, please remind me never to put a foot forward – or, indeed backwards or sideways – next time without looking. Thank you.

‘Blenheim Lodge . . . panoramic Lake views, peace and tranquillity, nestled against acres of beautiful fields and woodlands, in the heart of the English Lake District National Park.’