Day 3: On the way to Ullswater
We headed out in the morning on our way to the Lake District. Our first stop was the Ribblehead Viaduct. This viaduct has been one of my bucket list items for several years. Ribblehead Viaduct is a stunning piece of Victorian engineering in the iconic Three Peaks area of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
We stopped in the town of Ingleton, which is just before you get to Carnforth, which is where the main viaduct is. It’s a lovely little village with hilly, windy lanes. We wondered what was going on as there were plenty of people with running gear and race numbers attached to their shirts. At first, we thought we got there at the end. No such luck.
We took a quick wander through Ingleton because I wanted to get a few images of the old section of the viaduct that is in Ingleton.
Ribblehead Viaduct
Then we headed out to the main viaduct. As we got closer and closer, there were more and more people and cars. Parking was obviously going to be an issue, but we hoped once we got through the main area it would be less crowded.
Well, as we found out, there was a running race happening right as we got up to where parking would typically be. It was a bit wild as the racers were due through this very bit of road we were trying to park on at any moment. So, we had to turn around. At this point, I settled for long shots from the car. I was sad, but I will return. I swear, I will.
At least I got to SEE it. Right? It is quite the sight, even from afar.
We didn’t stop, adjusted the GPS and headed for the Lake District, where we would be staying for the next three nights. On our way to Ullswater, we stopped at Windermere to pick up some information on the area. The info center was closed but we walked around the trail down by the lake and up in the gardens. It was really a lovely, yet touristy, place.
By this time, we were ready to head to our hotel and relax for the rest of the day. We got to the Ullswater Inn, unpacked and headed to the outdoor patio overlooking the lake. Beer and wine in hand, we were happy to be out of the car. The weather was perfect for sitting outside and we enjoyed a lovely dinner.
Next we’re off to Buttermere for a bit of hiking.
