Kicking my heels in Kendal

Unexpectedly finding myself with a few hours to kill in Kendal recently, I took the opportunity to wander along the banks of the River Kent which winds through  the town.  
 
Natland Mill Beck Farm is part of a working Lake District family dairy farm, milking 120 Holstein Friesian dairy cows, twice daily. This is then used to make their 65 different flavours of ice cream, which are sold in the Ice Cream Parlour and Tea Rooms, just minutes from Kendal Town Centre. 
Somehow the frequent heavy hail showers made ice cream a little unappealing on this particular day!

The peace and quiet of Natland Mill Beck Lane was a striking contrast to the noisy traffic of the main road I'd left behind just moments earlier. 


I could certainly appreciate why the residents of this lovely quiet lane would not want a housing development on their doorstep... unless the houses were like this funky tree house perhaps? 
There was still plenty of Autumn colour around as I walked towards Natland Road.

River Kent

Jackdaws keeping their beady eyes on things...

... such as these goose-stepping ducks

Underpasses are such depressing places normally; this one has been made more cheerful thanks to the addition of some mosaic tiles by local school pupils.
More info here... 






Kendal town centre hugs the banks of the River Kent









Brrrr! Looks cold doesn't it?


The artist George Romney lived for a time in Kendal where he married a local woman, Mary Abbot. He soon separated from his wife and moved to London but returned to Kendal many years later where his wife nursed him until his death in 1802. 
More about George Romney here... 

Kendal is full of interesting architecture....







... including the stunning Holy Trinity Church.

Alms Houses

Abbot Hall Art Gallery, home to many of Romney's paintings

All in all, not a bad place to find yourself at a loose end!

 Thanks for visiting, hope you enjoyed the photos.