A great day for being on Lake Windermere

A gloriously sunny day in the Lakes. The morning started with a superb local walk to Brant Fell, from the summit of which were commanding views all around. We returned for a quick shower and the second part of breakfast before setting off for a trip on the Lake and the Lakeside and Hatherthwaite Railway.

The Lake Steamer Tern took us south down the lake to Lakeside where we caught the steam train to Hatherthwaite. Wonderfully clear but with a strong southerly wind, the lake was dotted with sails and other boats and craft as far as the eye could see.

At Lakeside a 1942 built Bagnall locomotive took us on the 3.5 mile trip alongside the River Levens to the terminus at Hatherthwaite which was a lovely station, nicely painted out in the railway's colours.

Here we partook of a scone, with jam and cream - adding another example to the great scone hunt. I have to confess that despite their initial appearance these scones were not so good as the John Lewis offerings. While crunchy they had a doughy texture and took some churning and didn't have a rich, crumby bit that I expected. The life of a scone inspector is very hard.

Size: has to be big 3
Shape: pleasing to the eye, top, bottom and sides 3
Colour lightly browned 2
Texture that craggy bit around the side to show it has risen 3
Breaking open tears apart easily 3
Smell must make your mouth water 2

Taste and flavour:
Crunch first bite impact 2
Churn how it breaks down when chewing 2
Crumb how well it holds together when putting on cold butter 3
Initial taste the impact of the first mouthful 2
Full taste how the flavour develops with eating 2

Final score 27/44

Before boarding the train back to Lakeside we noticed that a blue tit had nested in a small hole in a signal post and saw a little chick poking its beak out of the hole, hanging on to the edge of the hole with its claws.

A lovely journey back in the observation car, watching the track roll past the rear window. The trip back on the steamer was also lovely, this time the wind was behind us, so it was quieter and warmer. Some super yachts out on the lake, this was just one of them. Saw a water rescue taking place. A dinghy had got into trouble and was being attended to by a couple of rescue craft with flashing lights.

Once off the boat we wheeled Doreen along to Cockshott Point before retiring back to the "cottage" for a drink and very welcome supper.

Today was one of those "day of days"