This week, we have spent a few days in a small village / hamlet just outside Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria… we have been very lucky with the weather having chosen three perfect days to be away…
As usual, last Sunday (16th March) I spent a bit of time with Mum and then enjoyed a little stroll along the canal. It’s s nice to see the blossom starting to come out & hear the Curlews calling.
Walk along the canal after seeing Mum – blossom & Curlews
On Monday (17th March) we packed up the car and headed off to Appleby after a short stop in Skipton to collect Pete’s new glasses. We are fortunate to have so much beautiful countryside on our doorstep and, although the trip is only around 60 miles, we decided to take the slower route up through the dales… After Skipton, we headed towards Grassington, then Aysgarth where we turned left towards Hawes and onward to Garsdale before turning North again, through my favourite Dale, Mallerstang and stopping off in Kirkby Stephen for some lunch. With Appleby being only another 10 miles or so away from our lunch stop, we decided to head there for coffee & cake in The Taste of Eden (very nice!).
Finally, we arrived at our little cottage, attached to Colby Hall (which sounds very grand doesn’t it? See pics below! 😃), around 4ish and, after unpacking, went for a short stroll.
We have stayed in this area many times and did a bit of reminiscing about past camping trips with Mum & Dad and other friends… We finished off accessing our accommodation from a footpath we have walked a number of times, which runs below the Hall. As we were passing through the small-holding yard, we met our hosts, Dave & Sally, who were checking on their sheep in the barns, all waiting to lamb. It was great as they told us all about what had been happening, how many lambs they had, were yet expecting and even got to meet a couple of newborns who were being bottle fed – it was really lovely.
The following day (18th March) we woke to a cold, frosty morning but brilliant sunshine and had a walk from our accommodation (see below) in a wide circle that took us through some local farms, Appleby and back.
4-night stay in Colby at Colby Hall, just outside Appleby-in-Westmorland – for just over £50 per night, the accommodation was very nice & comfy!
Round robin walk to Appleby & back
At the start of the walk, we were heading for some stepping stones that cross the River Eden just after a big cattle farm about 1km down a track from the village of Colby. As we entered the farm yard, the lady farmer, whose name we later found out was Helen Warburton, warned us that some of the stepping stones had been washed away by recent storms. We got chatting about her farm and the current struggles many farmers are experiencing- she showed us one of her large cowsheds (see pic above) and talked about the welfare of the animals etc – so two days in and we suddenly knew a lot more about sheep & cow husbandry – who knew this trip would be so educational!
We bid the farmer goodbye and headed off for the stepping stones but, of course, the farmer was right and there was no way we could cross the river without having to swim (or at least paddle a bit!) so,we headed back through the farm and down a track we have walked before, off towards Appleby… the rest of the walk was less eventful but it was a beautiful day with plenty of sunshine, which always makes everything feel so much more positive, don’t you think?
We needed to get back from our walk in good time as Pete had booked a viewing of a house not far from Appleby in a village called Long Marston… just as we were preparing to jump in the car to get to our 4pm viewing, the agent called to say the Vendor had received an offer they were likely to accept so didn’t think it was worth it… although we haven’t sold our house yet, this was a bit disappointing although I did point out to Pete that this hadn’t been the reason for our trip, which had been to go see Dad!
On Wednesday (19th March), as planned, we made our way up High Cup Nick to visit my Dad! It was another beautiful day but warmer than it has been in a while… it is such a breathtaking place, rain or shine, but definitely on a day like it was last Wednesday with cracking blue skies and views over the Eden valley… where Dad’s ashes are, can be such a peaceful place (when it’s not lashing it down or blowing a hooley) with Wednesday being such a day… although it was windy, it was pretty sheltered where Dad is & we found a nice spot out of the wind for our picnic lunch 😊.
A walk up to High Cup Nick to see Dad!
On our way up to High Cup Nick – windy but beautifully sunny…
A rest at the top with Dad who loved this view and this place… the crocus were out and the daffodils on their way ❤️
Views from High Cup Nick including a wild pony (we saw at least six today!)
On the way down – looking across the Eden valley
On Thursday (20th) we made our way over to Penrith to visit friends, Marie & Merle, that we have not had a chance to catch up with for maybe three years or so. It was really great to see them both, alongside their three miniature schnauzers, Stella, Scout & Lunar, following their move back up to Cumbria from the Midlands… thanks for the walk Merle & the scones Marie!
Visit to see friends, Marie & Merle & their three miniature schnauzers, Scout, Stella & Lunar plus distant views of the Lake District
Thursday evening, we headed into Appleby for what has become a bit of a tradition, an Indian meal – the first for Pete since we returned from Goa back at the end of January! We have been to this Indian many times but it has changed hands since we last visited and, to be honest, it was a bit weird! Having ordered a dish that was a “fusion” of a jalfrezi & a masala, it was very sweet – nice, but sweet – weird! Pete is convinced that, although we ordered different meals, the dishes were the same!
Being a Thursday in a small town where there’s not much going on, we were the only people in the restaurant… we are comfortable with this, but it meant the owner had no one to talk to apart from us, so we heard all of his views about this, that and the other including his plans to turn the upstairs of the restaurant into some kind of gin bar – although am sure he said this would be alcohol free gin? Can’t see much call for that in Appleby myself but you never know! Anyway, the meal was Ok (even if it was weird and a bit expensive…) and his company was alright for a bit! It was quite a nice way to finish off our mini break anyway!
We headed home on Friday and have spent the last day or so, pottering around the house (Pete on the allotment too) catching up with bits and bobs & watching Athletics & Women’s six nations on the box… I even snuck in a catch up with the Apprentice whilst Pete was busy elsewhere – I really don’t understand why I find watching such a bunch of muppets so compelling!? 🤣…
One last thing, it actually started raining late yesterday afternoon (22 March) for the first time I can remember in weeks… it’s still raining this morning so I can feel a lazy day coming on! 🤣 Still, our walks whilst we were away means I have some extra steps banked so maybe I am due a proper day off!?
So, that’s all I got for this week… our house is still for sale but we are hopeful, come April, that the number of viewings will pick up. Our friends in Penrith said it was 10 weeks or so before they sold their previous home & we have been on the market for 45 days, just over six weeks, so there is hope yet! 🤞
All-in-all, it’s been a good week! Laters… 😘
All the gubbins… 
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