The Kent Estuary and Lake District from Storth

Today was for looking around to see what we thought of the potential of different places in the area to live. For the last few years we've been thinking of the next steps and where we would like to be so I was delighted when Susan asked whether I'd ever consider moving from Kent up to the Lakes or around.

We'd not thought it possible to live inside the National Park owing to residency regulations but it turns out that these regulations apply to only certain types of property. So for the last few visits we've been looking at places and either ruling them out or adding them to the list.

Our visit to Kirkby Stephen this week was to see whether the Eden Valley would fit the bill. But, lovely though it is, and great to visit, we didn't feel as if we wanted to live there.

So today we visited Milnthorpe and then drove around looking at the area around it, which was where we saw this view from the southern shoreline across the Kent Estuary. Nice place Milnthorpe, very welcoming. Next was Staverley and finally Windermere. Now I know that Windermere is one of the honeypots of the Lake District and even on a nice February day it was busy but, having walked around the town and up into the suburbs, we found that it was quite easy to get away from the crowds. But you still have to do your shopping every day of the year!

While walking on the edge of the town we passed a lady riding a super horse called Monty. He was a German Warm Blood and a very elegant and poised animal. Susan was smitten and Monty lapped up all the attention in the manner that it was the very least he deserved.

From Windermere we paid a final visit to our friends in Grange for a cup of tea and a biscuit before returning to our isolated cottage high above Kirkby Stephen for the last time.

The hunt continues.