A walk at Rannerdale

Last year I came to Rannerdale to see the beautiful bluebells but I was too late this year. Even without the bluebells, it’s still a lovely valley with stunning views. You may have noticed by now I don’t tend to climb high/famous mountains (unless I’m feeling very adventurous), but I like to take in the beauty spots and views while seeking out the less trodden and popular paths. Today I had planned a little route to Nether How as I could see on the map there was a little woodland there leading to the lake that looked like it might be pretty. It really was worth coming. I could see there were some bluebells remaining in the woodland so I made a mental note to come back again next year in early May! I love bluebells in a woodland with mottled sunlight shining through the canopy, it’s so magical.

You don’t have to climb a mountain to get good views!

I found a nice spot to eat my breakfast on a lakeside beach which I thought would be busy but really wasn’t. It was only 9am and it was nice to enjoy this space to myself (besides the Canada geese who had also claimed a part of the beach to themselves).

I found it hard to be still today. I tried to sit and read under a tree earlier on my walk but was too restless to stay long. I walked quite a lot further before I stopped to eat breakfast. I could tell I was still feeling restless and was keen to get moving again. No matter how much movement I got this morning, I couldn’t shake this restless energy. I wondered if it was because I’ve been ready to move house and keen to start the next chapter in my life. I’ve been impatient for things to change and have found it hard to trust in the timing of things and that things will work out when they need to. I’ve wanted to push ahead and force it when what I needed to do is relax into it and wait for it to happen without being overly focused on it. Have you ever had a strong gut feeling that things are going to change very soon? I find it hard to trust that feeling in myself, but I think that’s what has been making me feel restless. An inner knowing that soon things will start to change, I just don’t know how and when exactly. It’s that not knowing that makes me anxious and want to try and control the situation by forcing it.

My quiet lakeside breakfast spot

I’m going to try and take a lesson from the sheep and the birds that I observed today during my walk. They are always fully present, focused on their immediate needs. I find sheep so peaceful to watch, they’re either happily nibbling away at some foliage or they’re napping in a shady spot by some water, and they’re content. I’m going to practice bringing my thoughts back to the present and create moments of peace and contentment today. Starting with making a mindful lunch.