Why on earth is the Mountain Coward writing about service stations I hear you mutter (hopefully you’ve opened this post though). Well, partly because I can’t really hill-walk at the moment (severe leg problems). Also because the first sensible service station to visit on the way north on our regular pilgrimages to Scotland from England is, of course, Annandale Water.
(Click on photos for full size/resolution – these are film shots from the Zenith)
Why ‘of course’? Mainly because of their beautiful lake, filled with wildfowl which is a peaceful way to stretch your legs on the long journey north. The other reason used to be the food but, unfortunately, the proper meals have been done away with in favour of the nasty and ubiquitous chains, e.g. Costa and Burger King, so now you only have a choice of burgers or cakes and sludgy coffee 😦
The route around the lake is 5-10 minutes long, depending on how slowly you stroll. The wildlife vary slightly but can be: swans, geese, ducks and the occasional coot. Here are the photos…
Well worth stopping for!
The Adventures of a Mountain Coward 
Hope you’ve got things sorted and will soon be on the hills again.
Occasionally stop at Annadale Water on the way back home but I usually set off North pretty early so they are usually closed Cheers 🙂
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It looks long term/permanent unfortunately. But I’m trying to build up enough muscle to protect my joints and get myself back up into the hills. I’ve taken up cycling a bit this year now – was in your village on my little bike last week. Of course, I wouldn’t have known whether I saw you or not!
Carol.
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Last year I was doing about 100 miles a week on my bike, but I couldn’t ride one for 5 weeks after injuring my hand at Christmas and I’ve only had a couple of days off in the last two months since becoming self employed. Not doing my fitness any good 😦 If I see you whizz through Rasset I’ll give you a wave 🙂
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Ah, no, I was cycling through Bothel – thought that was your village. I had to google Rassett 😉
I’ve managed a couple of days around Uldale this week of 7-8 miles with quite a bit of up and down and varying terrain so I’m coming on a bit. I did go to see a (private) specialist and he was a lot more helpful than the NHS – might be writing a post on it soon. You get a much longer consultation if you go private and, so far, it’s only cost me £45 🙂
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Sorry to hear about your leg/hip problem Carol. I hope you can pull through and overcome the difficulties.
My annual pilgramage to Skye has been on hold so far this year, normally I would have been there and back by now. Hoping to go in four weeks time, but still won’t be able to do as much as I normally would; got to give my torn calf muscle time to recover… I did it last November, have been back at work over two months and it seems ok, but I’d better keep off the very steep stuff for a while yet.
I used to regularly set off from Harrogate at 3am, stop at Southwaite services North of Penrith for a wee, get through Glasgow before 7am thus avoiding much traffic, and be on Skye by 10am! Manic driving at speed – hmm, not as much fun as it used to be though.
I do sometimes stop at the Annandale services on the way home, and as far as motorway service stations go it seems very nice, airy and tranquil. Haven’t been ’round the lake though but.
Mike
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Ouch! sorry to hear about your torn calf muscle – bet you’ll be glad when you’re back to normal again and can get up some hills. I’ve been a bit better the last few days but my leg problems seem to come and go and I can no longer predict what days I’ll be able to walk and when I won’t.
Carol.
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That’s always my first option for a spot when heading north. If leaving in daytime I set off at 5am. That way I miss the traffic around Manchester, call in for breakfast at Annandale Water. By the time I reach the outskirts of Glasgow most of the traffic has cleared. It’s a accredited routine.
Good luck with the medical issue. Drugs; it’s the future😯
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Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like drugs are my future as apparently all my leg problems are due to the fact that my hip has suddenly worn out (perhaps not suddenly but it was pretty symptomless) 😦
I bet the traffic around Manchester is horrendous. I know that was what I most dreaded when I used to drive down to Snowdonia from our area regularly.
Carol.
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You could suggest to your GP to prescribe Naproxen and Omeprazole. It works for many orthopaedic patients. PM me on SH if you need more details.
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I’ve PM’d you
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Hi Carol. I must stop there. It looks very peaceful. You could start a service station bagging craze.
Alen
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LOL – that would be hilarious!
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I hope you will be out walking again soon. Annandale Water looks great.
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I hope I can get up some proper hills soon. I have an attractive short walk post from the Lakes to put out but will have to wait a while to finish the film I’m on just now. That was the walk which made me realise my leg was b*ggered unfortunately though so not such a happy day 😦
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Sorry to hear about the leg 😦 good luck at the docs tomorrow.
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Thanks Tessa – unfortunately, the leg has been getting worse for a few months now so it isn’t looking good.
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Sorry to hear that. Hope the docs had some useful suggestions and you can get back out there soon.
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Unfortunately, the doctors don’t seem to be giving out useful suggestions about bad legs recently – they just send you for an x-ray, tell you it’s osteoarthritis (I don’t think it is, although I think I have wear and tear expected of someone my age who’s put in the mileage and height gain I have) and then they just send you for physio. I’d dearly love to get to the bottom of the problem but information-digging seems to show that I’ll need very many different types of expert and that it will take much time and money 😦
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Good luck with the leg Carol
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Thanks – I’m taking my saw with me to the doctors – I think that might be the best solution!
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I’m 63. I play a lot of soccer and have had a few problems with a knee and various tweaked muscles. There’s a universal cure – swimming. I swim every day and stretch and wiggle my legs by the side of the pool. It works.
Anyway, I’ll dong my Tibetan singing bowl to wish you health. Cheers
Mark
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I do a bit of swimming but have to admit I find it pretty boring. I end up just doing leg exercises with the pull of the water against my muscles instead of actually swimming.
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Snap. I,m off to the doctors on Monday as well for an internal examination and blood tests. Having circulation problems. Forgot to mention bothies can be very intimidating for a lone female, depending who is in them. You may like Youth hostel or B and B weekends in interesting locations however and coastal walking.Cheer up. There is still fun if you have to lay off serious hill walking for a while :o)
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Someone else (a female Glaswegian) also expressed concern that I was bothying alone sometimes. I have to say I’ve never met anyone bad – most have been great company. That or they’ve kept themselves to themselves which is fine by me too.
Good luck with your doctors appointment – my circulation’s always been cr*p – runs in the female side of our family…
Carol.
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Hope your leg gets better soon. This is the first service station we visit as well.
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I do wish they’d stuck with the proper food bit though 😦
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Sorry to hear you can’t hill walk at the moment. I hope you’re back walking soon Carol.
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So do I – I’m getting really depressed about it. Doctors on Monday morning…
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Good luck!
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I suppose they can always shoot me 😉
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