This time it's Summer -and - as I'm now officially a "proper" (i.e. full time) student (albeit not for much longer)and we are both students celebrating the end of another academic achievement - it was to be my first experience in a Youth Hostel . Now I realise what I've missed out on!!!

It's kind of a nice comfortable balance between camping and staying in a B&B - there's a great atmosphere when everyone's mucking-in to clear the tables after breakfast or drop off the sheets at the laundry in the morning. It was.. different!

We stayed at Esthwaite Hall, a listed Regency mansion on the edge of Esthwaite water (obviously) about 0.5 miles outside Hawkshead (near Ambleside).

This (above) is the view of Hawkshead Youth Hostel - surrounded by trees on the edge of Esthwaite Water....

Like all YHA places - it was in need of some investment - but was clean and well-equipped and the staff were absolutely brilliant! It was just near enough to be convenient - but far enough away to be very very quiet. To the rear of the grounds was the very well- maintained Grizedale Forest (National Trust) with loads of cycle tracks and stuff (including the Go Ape! swinging from the trees thing.. No, me neither)

I met lots of interesting people - there was the French group, a few (brave) couples with very young babies some families and the Society of Change Ringers (!) from the University of Durham! On their annual tour of the Lakes (do they know they're born)?

We went for a very long walk to Howe Tarn, just outside Hawkshead (North West). This is also very well maintained and we walked for miles (about 12 altogether) to get there, but it was well worth it for the view from the top of the fell. And then, just as we stopped to take it all in, the cloud broke and the sun shone through! Wonderful!

We ate at the Kings Arms and the Sun Inn at Hawkshead - both very good (and cheap) pub grub (The Kings Arms was better, I think and excellent service too). There were a few other good places to choose from - we wished we had more time!

Nearby we spotted a good (but bloody expensive) camp site called the Croft - just on the edge of the village - so hopefully we'll be back soon. Not least because there's Trout fly fishing at Esthwaite to keep J occupied for hours...

below is the view from the front of the Yh - looking out over the Water.


This was taken in the evening after a very hot day's walking!

Above is the very well-maintained trail around Howe Tarn, near to Hawkshead. We were glad we persevered - we nearly didn't see it! It was well worth the effort!

More views of the Tarn...

Below the full view of the Youth Hostel. Wonderful building and great friendly staff. Brilliant breakfasts too!

....and it's friendly nearby cows - who must be fed-up of all the passing drunkards staggering back from the Hawkshead pubs...

Wonderful weather, glorious scenery, relaxing company - a really fantastic weekend ;)