For our final full day in the Lakes, which started out grey and drizzly, we decided to take a scenic drive east into the Pennines. Dubbed one of the 10 most scenic drives in the world by AA, it was certainly pretty, but no match for some of the drives we had taken already to the west and north. We got pretty high up, but turned around before getting to Alston, because the fog was getting thicker the farther we went. We stopped on the way down at the Village Bakery in Melmerby. Before settling down to a cappuccino and a sweet, we browsed the gallery upstairs where the artist was at work, but not too busy to chat.

Back on the road, we headed down a now-familiar road along Ullswater, glassy as a pond. A minor side trip took us to the Watermillock Church, unremarkable as a building, but charming for its location surrounded by stunning views of the fells. An elderly parishioner was doing the flowers and, once she realized we were there to appreciate the church, she smiled and passed the time of day. A bit further on the Patterdale road, we stopped again to see Aira Force, a lovely waterfall about a half mile walk into the woods. Now we're relaxing again with Cumberland Ale by a cozy wood fire at the Ratcher's Tavern in the Glenridding Hotel, musing on the fact that this is our last visit here for the trip.