[Harlaxton ’11] Lake District Brings Students Waterside, Woodland Adventures

by Nathan Lasley

The day started with an elegant breakfast provided by our wonderful hotel, the Burnside Hotel, near Windermere. At 9:00 a.m. the Fighting Automatons met with Corey to set the ground rules for the day, and a day it would be, a free day to explore the Lake District. As soon as all was said and done the Fighting Automatons scattered like quail to hike, boat, or even mountain climb in the beautiful scenery of Lake Winderemere.

My group for the day decided to go on the hunt for a waterfall. In particular the Stockghyll Force in Ambleside located about five miles on the other side of the lake.  With two modes of transportation available, a bus trip or boat tour, we settled for the scenic lake cruise. Our scenic lake tour took us up the lake crossing over the deepest point at a depth of about 240 feet. The view was absolutely beautiful. From the top of the boat you could see nearly the entire view of the lake; from the mountains seeming to touch the clouds to all the lush green pasture lands. It was breathtaking.

After our 30 minute cruise we landed at the Ambleside Pier and after a 20 minute walk ended up in the town of Ambleside. Once we arrived the search for the foot path to Stockghyll Force began. After about an hour of searching, getting side tracked by a large gem store, and getting turned around we finally found what we were looking for, the path to the falls. The trek up the mountain was steep and difficult but ultimately worth it. The falls were gorgeous and the water nice and cool. The peak even allowed some opportunities for perching.

After taking dozens of pictures and playing in the water at the bottom of the falls we began our hike back towards the pier. We grabbed a late lunch at a small local bakery before our mile walk from the town to the pier. Ready to head back we caught a later cruise back to Windermere. At five, the Fighting Automatons regrouped and those interested in the University of Chicago attended a meeting via Skype afterward with which they again split up for dinner.

Dinner consisted of fish and chips prepared fresh by a local restaurant, Vinegar Jones, whose fish was debated to be better than that of the Magpie in Witby. Dinner was followed by ice cream for dessert and some shopping before the town’s day ended. After a day like today sleep should not be hard to find. For tomorrow, off to Nottingham for the start of the Robin Hood festival. According to Corey, “There will be falconry.”