.....the setting is so dramatically beautiful I was hoping for less people and noise. It really is worth seeing for the setting alone, but I'll have to try and go back another time.
Day 8 - We spent the day climbing Cat Bells with the cruise around Derwentwater. The sign when you get off the boat to start your climb says 15 minutes to the summit. This is a lie. I don't think even my 7 year old could make it up in 15 minutes. We found some wonderful climbing companions in an English couple from Lincolnshire who were on holiday and making about the same pace as us. Thanks Phil and Gail!! For the evening we had reserved spots the night before at the theatre by the lakes restaurant and show 'Handbagged' It is a musing by the author about what went on in the weekly meetings between Queen Elizabeth II and Margaret Thatcher and was very funny. I recommend it.
Day 9 - On our way to York we stopped at Housestead's Roman Fort along Hadrian's Wall. My sister wanted to stand on the wall and this was the spot so Housestead's it was. Unfortunately it was rainy and windy, but still well worth a visit. The small museum is good and on a clear day you would be able to see quite far along the wall. Housesteads also apparently has the best preserved Roman toilets. Then a couple of hours into York where we dropped our car at the Europcar alongside the train station. This went quite smoothly as well once we figured out which gate to drive in. Our B&B Abbey Guest House was just on the other side of the river and as the others we'd reserved out of the RS guidebook was pleasant with a good breakfast. That evening we took the free town walk. The guidebook says it starts at 6:45 but it doesn't. It starts at 6:15 pm. So watch out for that if you are headed there. Again, an excellent walking tour where we learned about the many layers of York and where the term garderobe come from.
Day 10 - We walked part of the town walls of York and spent much of our day at the York Minster. Again a wonderful docent tour, looking around on our own, and perusing the crypt and museum. We then headed to the museum that is part of St. Mary's Abbey ruins and in addition to enjoying the regular museum were able to view a special Viking exhibit that was there. We then headed to the Minster for evensong before dinner. Again it was wonderful, though I liked Wells evensong better.
Yet to come, our week in London....