Lake District

The road aside Buttermere Lake

Stunning landscape along Buttermere Lake

Buttermere

Buttermere lake

Somewhere between Buttermere & Crummock Water

Near Crummock Water

Somewhere near Crummock Water

Crummock Water reservoir

Lowes Water, a relatively small reservoir, located a short drive from Buttermere & Crummock Water lakes

On our way to Cockermouth, North-Western Lake District

Kirkstone Pass - The Lake District's highest pass open to motor traffic, at an altitude of some 1500 feet with a gradient of 1 in 4 in some places.

Ullswater - the 2nd largest lake in the Lake District

Extreme, but typically English weather conditions barred us from taking any more pics of this breathtaking reservoir

Can the old dog learn a few new tricks?

Next stop - Aira Force Falls (waterfall) near Ullswater

Aira Force Falls - one of the most famous and most visited in LD

A more clearer view of Ullswater - this time on our way back from Aira Force

Ullswater

Along the descent "The Struggle" from Kirkstone Pass to Ambleside

The End of "The Struggle" - the descent

An arrow marks the spot where we started from the top!

End of the descent, "The Struggle"

Cattle enjoying the natural beauty between Little Langdale and Wrynose Pass

Enter the Wrynose Pass!

This is one of the steepest roads in England, with gradients of 1 in 3 at some points.

View towards Langdale from the top of the Wrynose Pass

Taking a well-deserved break, having successfully managed to drive to the top of Wrynose Pass!

Just when we thought we had done it all... it seems we have seen nothing yet.

The section of the route marked with an ellipse happens to be the Hardknott Pass, the STEEPEST motorable road in England, with a steady gradient of 1 in 3 in most of the places. Crickey!

Will we be able to survive to tell the tale?

Another view of the descent of Wrynose Pass and the ascent of the Hardknott Pass sent a few more shivers down our spines for good measure.

Between Wrynose & Hardknott passes, it contains some of Britain's most challenging driving with hundreds of steep hairpin bends.

Hardknott Pass, here we come (in peace)

Gradients of 1 in 3!

A mega-sized warning sign hit us in the face -

"Don't say we didn't tell you"

View towards Eskdale from the end of Hardknott Pass

No pics of us actually driving via Hardknott Pass, since our official photographer Malith was busy capturing this once-in a-lifetime moment with a camcorder.

You might be able to watch it when I learn how to publish a DAT file online. Perhaps. Maybe.

Having survived both the ascent AND the descent of Hardknott Pass, now it's time for a breather.

Capturing the beauty near Hardknott Roman fort.

Hardknott descent can be seen towards the middle of the pic.

Hardknott Roman Fort, built circa 120 AD.

The forst had survived until it was overrun by the gauls led by Vitalstatistix and of course, our heroes Asterix & Obelix - whose British adventures are immortalised in 'Asterix in Britain'

Sam of Briardene Guest House in Ellerthwaite Road, Windermere, took good care of us for 3 days.

Superb B&B and is highly recommended if you happen to stay in this part of the country.

Bowness, near Windermere

Windermere Lake, in Bowness

Us 2 with Windermere lake in the brackground

A-T-T-E-N-T-I-O-N !

Jumped on a Lakeland-class vessel to get to Ambleside and back!

Views around Windermere Lake, taken from the steamer.

Spot the rainbow to win a dream trip to Lake District!!

Views around Windermere Lake

On a steamer in Widermere!

Windermere Lake

View across Windermere Lake. You can just about see snow-topped mountains in the distance.

Another snow-topped mountain, known as "The Old Man of Coniston", as seen from the Tarn Hows

Wandering around "Tarn Hows", another small but magnificent pond

Tarn Hows in the background

Tarn Hows

Tarn Hows, near Coniston

The bovine types were puzzled why they were suddenly in the spotlight

Sheep near Coniston Water reservoir

Alas, our photograpic adventures of this magnificent trip abruptly ended here when the weather gods took matters into their own hands. All our prayers fell on deaf ears.