Rainy Lake District

We left Glasgow as soon as Margaret was home from work Friday, heading south on the M6. Bright sun shined as we passed rolling green hills on the longest day of the year. We stopped at Greta Green on the Scotland/England border, but it was closed for the day. We continued south to Penrith and turned west to the Lake District.
Low sun peaked through the clouds as we drove by verdant hill dotted with sheep and dairy cows. The road narrowed and began to resemble a rollercoaster ride as we came to Keswick on Derwent Waters, our destination for the night. A tourist town for over 150 years, Keswick has hundreds of guest houses and BnBs, side by side, just off the town square. Dozens of outdoor gear shops share the high street with pubs, restaurants, and souvenir shops. Keswick is at the center of the Lake district famed for its high mountains and deep lakes. There are over two hundred hikes documented in the area. The county of Cumbria is known for its local brewers, so we sampled an ale or two before bed.
Saturday was wet with low clouds and a steady rain. We availed ourselves of the local Saturday market in the town square, trying to wait out the rain. Giving up hiking for the day, we drove south to Grasmere, Ambleside, and Windermere, stopping to wander the small tourist villages. We circumnavigated Windermere, the longest natural lake in England. A beautiful lake between green hills, Windermere is a mecca for city folk seeking a secluded country escape. With so many tourist here, seclusion was not the right term.
Sunday was another wet day in the Lake district. Our BnB host suggested a drive along the Cumbrian coast. Margaret was not impressed and suggested Galloway and the Dumfries coast have better views. We stopped in Greta Green for some shopping and a snack. In 1754, the English passed a law limiting marriage to those 21 years or older unless approved by their parents. Greta Green, being just over the English border in Scotland, became the destination of young couples fleeing England for true love. Today it is still the location for many weddings, but perhaps there are more tourist than hopeful couples.
Back in Glasgow, it was a night of packing and prepping for Joe's trip back to Denver, while Mari plans for another week in Scotland and England.

Unedited photos for the weekend can be found on Flickr. There are not many as it was a wet weekend, the camera wasn't  out.