Now the days are dark, dreary and wet, wet, wet, I look back to a lovely day I had only a few weeks ago.
The picturesque village of Caldbeck with only 700 inhabitants, 13 miles from Carlisle and 20 minutes drive from Ullswater and Keswick, is bursting with atmosphere and history. My brother and I parked the car up on the fells and walked down to the village. Even on this day an umbrella was needed. As we commenced our walk we looked down on the Solway Coast (AOWB) and over to Knott and back of Skiddaw.
We ate a delicious meal at the Oddfellow’s Arms which I believe is now the only pub in the village. It was here that the infamous John Peel used to drink. I asked the landlord if they had any memorabilia, to which he replied curtly, ‘No’. Oh dear, I suppose everyone asks that question.
We ambled along to the churchyard where John Peel is buried (died 1854) along with several members of his large family. Before our ascent up the hill we visited the church, St Kentigern’s which was commenced in 1112 on an original site used in the 6th century. Since then, of course, there have been many alterations and additions.
Carol, visitor to the Lake District National Park