CrockerTravellers 2015: Last day in Lakes district

We bid goodbye to Bowness and headed off to Ambleside in the rain. This was the Galava fort at Ambleside.

The Roman Fort, built as one of a series of fortified structures to protect the vital trade routes through Cumbria, was built around AD79, and made use of a strategic position, protected on two sides by water.

During the Roman army’s conquest of Northern Britain towards the end of the first Century, a small timber fort was built here to house a garrison of 200 men. It was soon abandoned, but the site was redeveloped early in the 2nd Century AD. Beautiful place for a fort.

Next stop was Conniston to sail on the restored steam yacht SS Gondola built in 1859.

The steam yacht Gondola is a rebuilt Victorian, screw-propelled, steam-powered passenger vessel. Originally launched in 1859, she was built for the steamer service carrying passengers from the Furness Railway and from the Coniston Railway. She was in commercial service until 1936 when she was retired, being converted to a houseboat in 1946. In 1979, by now derelict, she was given a new hull, engine, boiler and most of the superstructure.

Geoff was blown away by its restoration and was very excited to travel on it.

It was a Beautiful trip around Conniston waters. Geoff was enraptured. It runs on compressed sawdust. The boat that is, not Geoff.

Cartmel Was our next port of call.

Cartmel’s religious history dates back to 677 when King Egfrith of Northumbria gave the village to St Cuthbert. Founded for ‘the regular canons of St. Augustine’, Cartmel Priory Church of St Mary and St Michael has been a focus for Christian worship for more than 800 years. It continues to serve as a centre for the local community and for the 60,000 pilgrims and tourists who visit each year.

At the time of the Dissolution of the Monasteries the inhabitants of the village were given leave to keep their church "unplucked down". Steeped in history and tradition, it has been preserved as one of the finest ecclesiastical buildings in the north of England.

The impressive medieval Gatehouse (built in 1330) still dominates the square. Villagers once traded at the Market Cross and Fish Slabs situated by the water pump. Today, they are still at the heart of the village that sits on the gently meandering river Eea.

Priory gate

Church walk around village and toastie

It was interesting seeing the priory Abby complete with a roof as usually they are in ruins There must of been some fast talking and deals done at the time of the dissolution.

Then it was on to Lancaster to be in position to have the car checked that we had looked after it for a month until we give it back at Dover at the end of the month. Kerry decides to chill out at the hotel while Geoff explores Lancaster .

Our hotel (next to the police station)

The castle area has been a centre of administration and justice for over a thousand years and there are the remains of a Roman bath house.

If you keep your eyes open as you walk around buildings close to the Roman fort and priory you will see examples of recycling ancient masonry in medieval buildings.