The Lakes District: Ullswater

Eventually it was time to say goodbye to the Lakes District. We left by the scenic route past Ullswater. Although all routes in the Lakes District are scenic routes this one was supposed to be one of the best. It was. We followed a tiny road between high stone walls up and across the bleakest, windiest and prettiest saddle high in the moor before descending to the lake.

After a few short photo breaks we made a longer stop at the strangely named waterfall Aria Force. It's actually a series of waterfalls (including the main one Aria Force) that you can walk past as you follow a stream up from the lake and then back down the other side. The stream and surrounds are reputed to have charmed the famous poet Wordsworth and had inspired some of his best work. The walk was well maintained and as a consequence was quite crowded although most people only walked up to Aria Force and back while we ventured a bit higher up the valley.

Twenty minutes after leaving the falls we were driving on the Motorway heading back north to Scotland. We agreed the Lakes District was one part of the trip that we would really like to repeat again in the future with more time on our hands. It is a very beautiful part of the world and very accessible which perhaps is it's only downfall as it's hard to avoid the crowds.

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