Among all the sheep we’ve seen, today we learned about another breed called Herdwicks. They are more muscular to be able to withstand the hillsides. This trait is similar to fell ponies which have shorter legs for the same reason.

Our first stop was at Buttermere Lake, so named because it is cold enough that years earlier people stored butter, etc., in it to keep it cool.

Somebody got the notion to take a group photo so here we are minus the couple from Poland who were elsewhere. This is our “United Nations” group and we were all able to communicate pretty well because everybody spoke some English. Among other things, we learned that Andrea from Italy loves to watch NCAA basketball, that Terry from Australia grows canola on his sheep farm, and that everyone is most interested in who we think will be the next U.S. President.

Back on the road we start climbing to Honister Pass, one of the three highest passes in the Lake District at about 1,200 feet.

At the top we stop at the Honister Slate Mine and cafe.

We also see lots of waterfalls here running down the hillsides.

We check out the slate mine and learn this slate is composed of volcanic ash rather than the sediment type we have in the U.S.

Then it’s back on the bus and back to Keswick for lunch.

We wander around and check out one of many hiking shops and buy our midge spray for Skye.

From there, we say goodby to the lovely Lake District and drive to Edinburgh. After departing our group, we feel the full force of the three festivals going on in Edinburgh this weekend. Not a cab to be found. So we walk the mile to our hotel through crowds of people. Overall, we really liked the trip. Not the bus ride so much though, and we wish we could have spent more time in Grasmere, bought more gingerbread, and especially, had the opportunity to do some real hiking. Absolutely a hiking mecca. We tried to go here to hike in 2001 but Hoof and Mouth Disease kept us away and then we got sidetracked for 14 years.

Tomorrow we go to Inverness.