a lake district hike and a damn good slice of cake

I never appreciated growing up with the Lake District on my doorstep as a child.  Long walks out with the family to me meant eating soggy sandwiches while negotiating sitting on a precarious looking rock, wishing I was at home watching Hey Arnold!  One view never seemed anymore impressive or stunning than another, they all looked the same to me, and my brown walking boots gave me blisters.
I remember when I first moved to London, telling a friend I was from Cumbria she made a comment about how lucky I was to live in the Lake District, and how I must miss going walking every weekend.  I remember awkwardly nodding my head at the time, and it was at that point I realised that actually those mountains are pretty damn impressive and you don't see any of those in the big city.  
But it's still only now, 4 years since leaving London and 9 years since having that conversation that I'm actually genuinely starting to appreciate the Lake District, and want to start ticking off fells I've climbed.  Admittedly, I'm still going to be a fair weather walker, the thought of trudging around in soggy boots and waterproof trousers, with those all-impressive views hidden by grey clouds doesn't appeal.
This Saturday, me and the Mr had a plan-free day, and the weather was looking to be good.  So we got up early and headed to Keswick...I say early, we were up and out the house by 9am, which is pretty good going by my books on a Saturday, and donned our finest walking gear (read: adidas leggings, inappropriate trainers and a warm woolly hat).


I'd read Jo's 'Walla Crag Walk' post a couple of months ago, and it had been on my list of walks to do (I say that like I actually have a list, my list is non-existent now I've ticked this one off) since then, it seemed to be a good distance, a relatively easy climb and provided those all impressive views I now have learnt to love. 
Despite Jo's good directions, and this National Trust Walking Trail, we still managed to successfully go wrong on several occasions.  As a pair, we're rubbish at directions and never carry a map so somehow managed to miss the Ashness Bridge section of the walk, but it was all good, we made up our own route, found ourselves back where we started, and didn't add an extra 2 hours to the walk like the last time we got lost.


For some reason I'd been expected a 'gentle climb', and it may have had something to do with the fur lined puffer jacket I was wearing, but there were sections of this walk which definitely required some effort, so I'd make sure you're feeling fit if you're planning on giving this a go, or perhaps just leave the winter coat at home.  
With stunning views of Derwent Water, dense woodland into open fields, and crunchy snow underfoot (my favourite kind of weather) it really was a beautiful walk and I genuinely enjoyed it.  My dad, a long time lover of the lakes, would be proud.


And after 3 hours of walking, 1000 calories burnt according to our watches and stomachs rumbling, it seemed only sensible to stop in Keswick for some lunch.  
We headed to a cafe called Merienda, an old favourite of mine which used to be in Carlisle but one day they just up and left (I still mourn for it!) however I was pleased to see they still had the same menu and ordered the slow cooked boston beans served with chorizo, feta, spinach, poached eggs and grilled corn bread.  I'd spotted the Guiness and Bailey's cake on my way in, so made sure I went for a smaller meal to leave space for a slice.  And the food was every bit as good as I remembered, and the cake? Well let's just say I'll be dreaming about that cake for months to come.
And that was that, a perfect Saturday, an appreciation of the Lake District and a damn good slice of cake.  I will be back.