Basenthwaite & Derwent Water

Just returned from a slightly damp North but had a descent day in the Lakes with Sis.

Toured the west side of Basenthwaite and discovered a small, but perfectly formed, mini nature reserve I hadn't come across before.

Before continuing to Keswick where they are developing a number of walkways by the side of Lake.

Finished at the little cafe in Hope Park. Despite its diminutive size they do wonderful meals, toasted halloumi sweet chilli to die for, if you're ever passing.

Dymock Poets Cottages Walk

There are a number of walks, varying in length, set between Dymock and Preston on the B4215. 

The Dymock Poets countryside covers an area from May Hill in the south to the Malvern Hills in the north, most famous for its wild daffodils, which once grew in profusion in the meadows and woods. Despite changes in farming practices there are still many places where wild daffodils can be seen in late March and early April. 

May Hill is wonderfully mysterious. The clump of Scots pine trees on top of what looks like an upside down soup plate make the hill a visible landmark from all over Gloucestershire and Herefordshire.

Shortly before the First World War, three poets – Lascelles Abercrombie, Wilfrid Gibson and Robert Frost – came to live near Dymock in Gloucestershire. Three poets visited them: Rupert Brooke, John Drinkwater , Edward Thomas and Eleanor Farjeon. All the cottages that the poets lived in are passed on various walks, but they are now private properties. Their move to Dymock was a conscious decision to work in and respond to the English countryside, to seek a literary idyll. They produced their own journal, New Numbers. At the encouragement of Frost, in particular, Edward Thomas turned from literary journalism, to become one of the great English poets of the century. Frost himself gained a new impetus, while Rupert Brooke found Dymock and its occupants a fixed artistic centre during his world-wide travelling.

Robert Frost and Edward Thomas walked May Hill, and Frost and his wife could see it from their cottage, Little Iddens, which we passed on our walk. They referred to it in letters home. And it’s on May Hill that Edward Thomas began writing Words.

Glyn Iddens temporary home of Eleanor Farjeon

Littel Iddens the 1914 home of the Frost Family

the village water supply

There is a permanent exhibition about the Dymock Poets in St Mary’s Church, put together by local people. March and April a dedicated team women provide tea and cakes for travellers and walkers.

After the Snowdrops come the Daffodils

What an amazing February for walking.

All of the domestic daffodils are out, both in town and in the garden, but not the indigenous wild daffies of the Forest.  

Once a common sight throughout Gloucestershire, and its county flower, these small blooms, once bred for market, are now found mainly in the "golden triangle", near the villages of Dymock, Kempley and Oxenhall. Each year these villages organise a festivals, including guided walks to see the flowers and all provide teas in the village halls . Dymock is worth visiting any weekend in season as the Poet’s Church serve tea and cakes through March and April. Well worth a visit.

This years events:

Oxenhall weekend is 16th & 17th March;

Kempley weekend 23rd & 24th March (look out for the Kempley Tardis :)

Dymock weekend 30th & 31st March – check out the Poets Corner in the Norman Church of St Marys.

In the years before World War I, Dymock became the base for a group of writers who became known as the Dymock Poets. The group, which included Rupert Brooke, Wilfred Gibson, Edward Thomas and Lascelles Abercrombie, and was later joined by Robert Frost. it was also from here that Brooke published his War Sonnets, including The Soldier (If I should die, think only this of me...). Brooke and Thomas died in the War.

All, I think, are 10am – 5pm.

Painswick Rococo gardens were ablaze, fields of gold and a sprinkling of wild woodland flowers.

and finished with the traditional tea n cake this time at the wonderfully friendly village cafe - The Painswick Pooch :)