The next (bigger) village from High Park Farm was Ambleside and on my second (very foggy) morning I stopped for a little walk around town. Based at the head of Windermere, Ambleside is the perfect base for exploring the Lake District by boat, walking, horse or car.
Ambleside is bigger than expected, there is a Roman Fort dating from 79 AD and part of the Cumbria University, a cinema, many shops, tea rooms and restaurants.
My destination for this day was Buttermere and my Airbnb host Tony helped me in planning a very scenic and beautiful route passing Keswick and (more important) Castlerigg Stone Circle.
The view from the circle was simply amazing!
Castlerigg Stone Circle stands on a superb natural plateau commanding a superb 360 degree view over the surrounding fells. It is composed of 38 free standing stones, some up to 3 metres (10 feet) high. It is one of Britain’s earliest stone circles dating back to the Neolithic period 4000 to 5000 years ago. (Keswig.org)
The motives behind the stone circle are still a mystery, it was probably used as a trading and meeting area. But the beauty of its backdrop inspired poets and painters of the 19th-century Romantic movement.
A modern-day painter at work.
