Loweswater Bimble

A really nice walk out and the highlights weren't any I could have predicted. Yes the views were fabulous, the weather was great, but it was the grassland fungi and the ballooning spiderlings that stole the show! 

We set off from Fangs Brow, near Mockerkin (despite the road closures!), to do three Wainwrights: Burnbank Fell, Blake Fell and Gavel Fell. There was plenty of parking on the roadside at Fangs Brow, so we headed off along the track towards Loweswater, before taking an obvious right-hand turn straight up onto Burnbank Fell. After a steep section we were on the tops and a pleasant walk out to the summit and then on to Blake Fell and Gavel.

We then headed down to High Nook Farm, where a permissive path leads to the lakeside and a scenic walk along the shore of Loweswater and back over the fell to Fangs Brow. 

Setting off in some lovely light.

Climbing up and overlooking Loweswater and Crummock.

Looking back to Burnbank Fell from Blake Fell.

Fleetwith Pike catching the light.

Grasmoor over Mellbreak.

Looking back to Blake Fell.

A panorama from Gavel Fell.

Swaledales...

Serious horns.

The grassland fungi were spectacular.

Back down to the lake edge.

A classic view.

More Wax Caps.

And then this... Ballooning Spiderlings - but they deserve another blog!

And back to the start - looking back at the way we set off - what a good walk!

Fused Glass Fungi

I do enjoy cutting glass, so being as it's the autumn, I decided to make some fused glass fungi for our lawn. 

Ceps, Panther Caps, Golden Spindle and Common Morels.

Back home...

Back home and well, it's that time of year, so another woodland walk. Not quite the temperate rainforests of Knapdale, but not bad....

Sunshine! 

Deliquescing Ink Cap... 

A good year for naturally regenerating oaks...

Horn of Plenty.

Sulphur Tuft.

A 'past it'  Cep...

And more.....note the Amanita sp top left...

Down by the river...

Amethyst Deceivers.

Unknown....

And more Amanitas probably Blushers.

Knapdale fungi and lichens

While looking for Beaver signs we enjoyed the temperate rainforest and it was good to see so many fungi beginning to appear too....not ideal conditions for photography though as it was raining, otherwise there would have been many more fungi pics. 

Lungwort.

Peltigera sp.

Usnea sp plus????

Yellow Stag's Horn Fungus.

Yellow Legs.

Possible Wrinkled Club? 

Helvella sp.

Chanterelles.

Angel's Wings.

Scarlet Elf cups

 There is a fabulous display of these colourful fungi, just along the lane from us. 

Lopwell Dam and along the Tavy (Part I)

 A far better than forecast day weatherwise and a glorious walk along the river Tavy - first along the bank opposite Bere Ferrers (where I lived when very young) and then secondly (next blog) by crossing Lopwell Dam (weir) and walking along through the woods and along the estuary to Bere Ferrers. It was nice to have the autumn colours, especially the beech, and lots of fungi as well as good birds, including two views of kingfishers. 

Fly Agaric.

Jelly Ear and various other fungi...

Autumn Chanterelles/Yellow Legs.

Bere Ferrers.

Quality mud.

Little Egret.