Hello. I wanted to greet you with the splendid view of Brougham Castle today. This place bears the emblem of English heritage. This is the symbol of an organization that values historic buildings. As indicated on the sign we need to proceed along the footpath.Since it's not possible to pass through the private property onboth sides.
We continued our walk along the path. As we approached the castle, intriguing details caught the eye about what kind of castle this was. The stones on the ground caught my attention. These were the foundations of Roman structures. Yes remnants from the Roman era were still standing here. This castle was actually built upon the Roman foundations. The construction took place in the 13th century.
What kind of castle are we dealing with? Or from which castle do these remains come? According to the information we gathered from the info panels there are many different types of castles in the north of England. These castles are often considered entry points to Scotland. Yes, Brougham Castle is also situated near the Scottish border and therefore equipped with defensive structures. This castle was also used for defense purposes. It held strategic significance during the English-Scottish wars reflecting Scotland's struggle for independence in the 13th and 14th centuries.
Scotland fought England for 150 years in the 13th-14th centuries, resulting in two major conflicts. Brougham Castle was initially constructed as a magnificent residence for the English Baron Robert Clifford. But over time, it was also utilized for defensive purposes.
The northern geography was quite vulnerable. Usually residences were established closer to the southern regions of England, where palaces and gardens were located. Living in the north meant residing in large castles made of sturdy stones. Nevertheless, as I mentioned while Brougham Castle was primarily designed as a luxurious residence, it was extensively employed for defense during times of war.
We looked upstairs and glanced at the second floor. The windows were designed particularly for defensive purposes. As you can see, today this building is in a ruined state. The reason for this is not due to destruction by someone. It's simply because it was abandoned and deteriorated over time.
Throughout history, this castle certainly experienced ups and downs. The greatest destruction occurred after the 18th century. In this century a member of the Clifford family, who inherited this castle, decided to abandon it, concluding that investing here was unnecessary. Furniture was removed and sold and the castle was left to solitude. From the 18th century onward it looked as it does now.
On the website for visitors to the castle, it says, Come, tourists, this is a wonderful place, perfect for picnics. Witness how things can change: Serious defensive structures where bloody battles took place have transformed into pleasant picnic areas over time.
These types of fences divide the meadows. This style of masonry is called dry stone walling, where stones are placed together without mortar. These fences are constructed from rather intricate stones. I can't precisely determine the age of the older ones, probably around 100-200 years; some of them are decayed. These kinds of steps were built to move from one meadow to another.
These are generally historical elements, most likely quite ancient with the primary purpose of keeping animals from dispersing and escaping. Yes, animals cannot jump over these fences. During our next evening walk, we describe the path we took through the meadows.
Sheep are grazing quietly while we chase after the yellow raspberries because we saw wild raspberries somewhere yesterday. I don't know if they're wild or cultivated, but they naturally appear and have a yellow color. The children are seeing them for the first time. They got excited and said we should go on another yellow raspberry hunt today. Okay, we've reached the goal, the children are happy. Wonderful, perfect raspberries.
Take a look at the beauty of the lake. Last time we were in the Lake District I think it was 3 years ago. The weather was generally bad. It was raining constantly and we couldn't go to the lake's shore. We just roamed around the mountains and they told me there's a wonderful lake here. Here we are, three years later the second-largest and longest lake – Lake District. The first lake is known as Lake Windermere.
Here there are also antique boats resembling the old-style steamy ferries. Tourist trips are organized on this lake. This time we have 3 days, we can't see the whole area, it's not possible to see everything. Maybe next time.
Perhaps next time we'll have the opportunity to take a cruise on these ferries on the lake. I'm watching a family. They're learning how to paddleboard. You can stand on this board and after a while, you can sit if you want. They come in different sizes and materials. Some of them are really large, accommodating the whole family,but these are massive boards. There are also smaller ones available. Lately it's been on my mind, it seems like I might need one too. Of course it's not like swimming in the sea. Maybe there's a stream nearby, there are these kinds of streams everywhere. The current isn't strong, and there's no tide. This is precisely where you find narrow, small, winding and beautiful riverbanks. There are birds and nature there. You can sit and peacefully enjoy.
I don't know, is it difficult for a person to learn this or not? Children are growing up, they want more activities, like canoeing or modern kayaks for example. Yes, you can even call them canoes or just paddleboards. Our children are not exactly athletes. They are not directly dreaming of this, but I think this is still the beginning stage. You see even little kids are sliding, so they are learning to slide. Yes here is the father and his daughter. How old is she, maybe 7? So, it's not that difficult after all if done correctly.
We are in a wonderful place. Tourists who come to the mountains often stay here.
Here is Hitchcock's thriller movie The Birds. Everything is nice, it's summer a peaceful life. People are in a relaxed state. Yes they immediately leave the cafe and go into the river. Ducks are swimming, people are relaxed on the boards. Unfortunately the vacation has come to an end. Yes, we are going back home to organize our boxes and suitcases.
We had a good resting period. We set up a camp across from the cafe. We'll have Greek coffee and hit the road...