Lake District

With its big green fells, beautiful lakes and quaint stone villages, I love the Lake District. I've been many times but all too often end up trudging around in the rain or sheltering in tea shops. This week's last minute trip was a welcome departure though! Whilst you can't knock the teashops(!) it was a thoroughly pleasant change to have six days of solid sunshine and walking with fantastic cloudless views!

Slogging up Cat Bells in the sun!

Lovely views of Lake Windermere (the only reason I stopped obviously!)

He couldn't resist another foxglove shot!

The view from our cottage in Bassenthwaite...

Starting off towards Scafell Pike - the last time I was here I couldn't even see the fells!

Ali discovers a new flower - marsh orchids this time

Boats on Lake Windermere

Bees take second place to dragonflies! 

The ultimate foxglove shot?!

Afternoon tea in the cottage garden. Not a bad spot!

Views of Blencathra from the cottage window.

Another stunning ridgeline...

Make hay while the sun shines and all that...

Scrambling on the sharp edge of Sharp Edge...

Time for a well-earned pint?!

The Stone Circle at Keswick shortly before a pagan wedding party arrived... can you feel the energy?

A spot of Croquet anyone? No idea of the rules but we just played it like minigolf.

Fun in the sun... in Yorkshire?!!!

The need for a new car brought us back to the UK at the beginning of our holiday rather than the end this year. Expecting a brief week in the rain catching up with friends and family, our visit actually coincided with a prolonged heatwave leading to a glorious extended stay enjoying the English sunshine and some impromptu family holidays!

We started "oooop north" with Ali's family, fitting in some good walks, BBQs and a garden festival as well as a lovely family wedding. We now have a bling new camera so Ali has been honing his skills, even developing a new-found interest in flowers and insects... I know I'm biased but I think it was money well spent :-)

Starting the trip with some walks around Emley...

One of Ali's first flower shots! Beautiful pansies in Mary's garden...

Ali gets another year older and the Guardian's "ultimate chocolate cake". Unfortunately for him he was made to share it!

Buttercups in the Peak...

Heading up to Stanage Edge - the camera's first long walk!

Classic millstones on the Edge...

Some well-earned pints of tea in the world's quirkiest and rudest cafe... as the signs say they are not mind readers so if you want your coffee then say so! And whatever you do don't wait at the serving hatch - it's a not a viewing platform!

Ali's new favourite flower...

Another walk in the Peak District, this time Mam Tor.

More flowers from Mary's garden

The happy couple! Congratulations to Heather and Ben :-)

The amazing wedding breakfast -  scrumptious BBQ and hog roast! 

Exploring the gardens of the wedding venue...

We even found this little chap!

Ali gets arty with depth of field... 

And arty around the fields of Emley...

The foxglove obsession continues...

Strolling off the hog roast with a walk to Bretton...

Strange artwork at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park...

Relaxing in the garden - yes this really was England! 

A whole day of flower photography and generally nosiness at Shelley Garden Festival.

Amazing peacocks in one of the gardens!

A juicy wild strawberry in the garden.

Picking more strawberries for a trifle!

Another walk in the Dark Peak...

Cotton grass on Kinder Scout - the most abundant for 30 years apparently! 

Kettlewell in the Yorkshire Dales 

Walking down the fell to Arncliffe...

The ultimate flower and bee photo?! 

Or perhaps with proboscis?