To Ullswater for hiking...Stagshaw Garden for azaleas and rhodies...and Townend, a 17th C. house, and to Troutbeck

Day #8. Today was an absolutely gorgeous day from morning till evening. Right after breakfast we headed out to Ullswater with hiking boots in tow. Hikers were everywhere! This is the area for hiking up Helvelyn, the third highest peak in the Lake District. Although scaling Helvelyn wasn't part of our plans we did start up a footpath headed in that direction. At a certain point we turned left and circled along a path that took us back to Ullswater. Many others we met veered off to the right to go up Helvelyn. The peak of Helvelyn was visible to us until we turned the corner. Views were super again. I think it's fair to say that wherever you are in the LD there are stunning views. Once we made our final descent Malcolm and Bill headed straight on to the local pub for a pint. While they sipped their pints I wandered by the lake photographing the pretty scenery. My treat was a Magnum, a raspberry ice cream with a layer of chocolate and then a second layer of raspberry chocolate. Most delicious! Back to Butt Hill for my homemade potato and leek soup which we enjoyed outdoors on our patio in the perfect sunshine and with our favorite views of the fells.