As it is Bank Holiday weekend we thought that we'd stay away from the honey pots of the Lake District and take the "back door" to Ulverston and then on to Furness Abbey. However busy Bowness and Windermere become, this quieter part of the Lakes is always charming and welcoming. It seems that this sentiment chimes with that of William Wordsworth in his Guide to the Lakes:
"They who wish to see the celebrated ruins of Furness Abbey, and are not afraid to cross the Sands, may go from Lancaster to Ulverston; from which place take the direct road to Dalton; but by all means return through Urswick, for sake of the view from the top of the hills, before descending into the grounds of Conishead Priory. From this quarter the Lakes would be advantageously approached by Coniston; thence to Hawkshead, and by the Ferry over Windermere, to Bowness: a much better intrduction than by going direct from Coniston to Ambleside, which ought not to be done, as that would greatly take off from the effects of Windermere."
We didn't "cross the sands"; the A590 seemed far quicker and more
efficient! But, we did enjoy the view from Urswick as well as lunch at
Conishead Priory. As always, Furness Abbey was peaceful; the ancient
stones were slumbering in the warm afternoon sunshine. Conishead Priory
was equally attractive, the Peace Cafe providing a pleasant lunch in a
wonderful setting.
At Furness Abbey I thought about William Wordsworth's words about the Abbey in The Prelude:
