Surprise View above Derwentwater

A well named location. We'd been walking through the trees along the Watendlath valley looking forward to seeing the Suprise View. It didn't disappoint as the weather cleared just enough to give this fairly dramatic shot.

We were following one of the Discover Britain routes created by the Royal Geographical Society and the Institute of British Geographers "discovering  three centuries of landscape art in the Borrowdale Valley" as well as learning more about the impact of glaciation on the landscape.

Taking a 42 page document on a walk, given the inclement weather is not ideal so we had to wait until we return to the hotel to fully appreciate the work of the artists. Many of them felt the landscape was picturesque and sublime, beautiful yet frightening.

It was a good walk, over 8 miles. The weather was not kind, drizzle with heavier bursts and quite a bit of ascent to get to Watendlath. Finding somewhere to hunker down in the lee of a boulder for lunch was also a challenge. But, as you can see, the weather cleared a little in the afternoon, allowing this view and other views of the lake to be taken in as well as  Barrow and Lodore Falls.

The hotel is pleasant enough but doesn't compare with our favourite, the Inn on the Lake at Ullswater. Food here less nouveau cuisine though.