Castles, Lakes & Hills ahoy!
September started with a ‘blue moon’ and a heatwave – conditions not wasted on ACR crews who did some extra special rows with highlight trips around the Farne Islands and in the Lake District.
On a day that felt like we were still mid-summer, Pride of Aln and Enflaeda headed for Bamburgh to launch for a row around the magnificent Farne Islands.
With perfect conditions and the Castle a spectacular back-drop, we had a superb row taking in the scenic beauty and famous wildlife, from the peace of a Skiff, rather than the engine driven craft most visitors to the Islands must take.
See more photos in the gallery below.
Later in the month Enflaeda was towed west to be berthed in the rolling foothills of the Lake District for five days. ACR members were offered the opportunity to row the very different environment of Cumbria’s Lakes.
With crew staying at the Swan Hotel at Newby Bridge, Enflaeda was allowed to launch from their private, riverside landing and the first crew enjoyed a scenic river paddle alongside pastures and woodland to Lake Windemere. Once there we rowed up the eastern lakeside, past yachts, boathouses, trees, and large expensive properties, with a good few building sites.
On the second day we launched onto the smaller Lake Consiton, with the surrounding fells draped in mist. As the day warmed, we were treated to spectacular views and a much quieter row. The steam gondola made several appearances, and the other craft we saw were mostly kayaks and paddleboards.
A relaxing and scenic row, which circumnavigated Swallow & Amazon’s Peel Island, we finished off a brilliant day with drinks at the Bluebird Cafe.
On day 3 Ullswater was tackled with a launch from Glenridding and a picnic lunch broke up the 11 miles haul around the Lake. Finally, Coniston was revisited on the final day and all the members who headed west through the week for one or two days each had a fantastic time.
