Pines and picnics...

After a lovely Christmas and New Year down South (I'll write about this in the next few days) we have had the first few days of no rain....hurrah!! Apparently we're heading into a really cold snap for the next month so decided to get out and enjoy the cold, crisp, dry and sunny day we had on offer today by heading back over to Grizedale Forest.

We are slowly working our way through the different trails, so today it was the turn of the Grizedale Tarn Trail, 3.5 miles of beautiful forest walk with the added bonus of a natural tarn and sculptures along the way. Although it was a chilly day, the sun shone through the trees and we found a lovely little spot for our lunch but I'll let the pictures do the talking......

The start of the trail...

Through the arch...

with the sun shining through the trees...

over the bridge...

winding up the musical trees as we went.....

That's one big stile!!

Over a stream ...

Nice place for a picnic...hot soup all round..

A very peculiar man-made channel in the middle of the forest.....

What's that bright shiny thing above the pines?

The fox!

A rather large, wooden spiky thing

The newest sculpture...'Ben the serious rambler'

A fence!!

and it goes on....

We found the tarn! 

Pulling my stomach in whilst trying to smile...not easy!!

Grizedale Tarm...ahhhh...

Interesting stile with drop down cover to keep deer out (or in!)

Over another stream....

Cairn tree

On the homeward stretch, back at the bridge.

Time for hot chocolate!

Here comes the ferry to carry us homeward....