GLW1703 : Finding Lily

Tuesday 28th March 2017

The first tarn we found was more like a puddle, definitely not Lily Tarn. The second tarn was still small but at the time I thought that was Lily- it is certainly the closest to the name marked on the OS 1:25K map. But there is a larger tarn up there that we missed. I think that was Lily Tarn. We'll have to go back!

That was seven years ago. Today we did go back and we did find Lily. She was just where we thought she should be. Somehow last time we had managed to pass her by, not exactly within spitting distance but probably a good lob of stone away just over a little hillock.

This time we did the circuit the other way round.

Starting from Ambleside's usurious car park, rounding the mini-golf course, past the church.....,

.....across the park, over the bridge......

..... and up the track.

Fortunately it was beautiful spring weather; sunny although the distant tops were somewhat lost in haze.

It was a bit of a pull up the hill but we soon found our selves at Lily Tarn, exactly where we thought it would be. It is a lovely small tarn and a tranquil place to stop for a coffee. Only we hadn't brought any.

Next we climbed the short distance to Todd Cragg and enjoyed the view of Windermere which seem to be rising up into the misty air.

The way down to the road is quite steep, but not dangerously so. We ambled through a wood where a woodpecker would peck wood, then along the River Rothay to the bridge that leads back to the car park.

Finding Lily is a lovely short walk when the sun is shining. I wouldn't have wanted to do it two hours later when the rain set in!

Don, Tuesday 28th March 2017