On my walk to Wall Crag I strolled along the shores of Derwentwater and came by an old friend I hadn’t seen for 18 years. We will just call him ‘The Boulder’. I don’t know why but he made an impression on me back then, and I was quite delighted when I came across him once again. Last time I visited the lake was curling around the base of him, which just shows how little rain there has been here in recent months. In the background we can see the distinctive spine of Catbells.
It is hard to tell from a photo, but this stone is fairly huge, and it kind of reminds me of one of those ancient and colossal stone-carved Olmec heads of Mesoamerica.
So to get an idea of scale yours truly has stepped into the frame. I suppose I should have taken my hat off.
The views from this side of the lake are quite spectacular with the wooded slopes of Castle Crag in the centre. It is apparently the site of an old hill fort.
And we have Catbells again with some folk relaxing around the shoreline. Onwards to Walla Crag, but you know all about that already 🙂
Click once to expand view, click again to get that little bit closer
July 2018, Derwentwater, Keswick, Cumbria, England. © Pete Hillman.
Nature Journeys 
I have a few friends like your boulder scattered around the state, too. It’s always fun to catch up on the news when I see them again, and there are one or two that I’ll actually seek out — just to see how things are going.
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🙂 I like that, Linda 🙂 At least I know I am not the only one who has a thing for old stones and rocks 🙂 I had to go and visit Castlerigg Stone Circle, built before the Pyramids apparently, just to reacquaint myself again. That will be a future post.
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Sort of amazing that there is just the one rock; makes me wonder if some human intervention left it there. You should go back some day and do one without the hat. Beautiful landscape images, Pete.
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🙂 I think it might be one left behind when the glaciers retreated. Yes, I guess I should, lol! Thank you, Ellen 🙂
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Spectacular views, Pete!
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Thank you, gillyflower!
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I have been catching up on your recent posts and have thoroughly enjoyed this journey!
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I am very pleased you have enjoyed the journey, Anne! Thank you 🙂
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Is that a glacial erratic, do you think?
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That was my immediate thoughts, too, Eliza!
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Joe Cocker said you can leave your hat on, and that’s good enough for me!
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Lovely scenery. That boulder certainly looks like a glacial erratic. It’s always fun to look for hints of the glacial terrain.
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Thank you, Adele 🙂 It’s amazing to think how deep under the ice we were all those years ago!
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Such an amazingly beautiful landscape to walk around with a camera! I suppose “The Boulder” has not changed much under the 18 years, compared to us humans 😁 Wondering how it ended up there, and alone!
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Thank you, Anita 🙂 It had hardly changed at all, and I did photo it back then in 2000 but this was before I went digital. I think it may have been left as a remnant from when the massive glaciers receded at the end of the last Ice Age some 12,000 years ago.
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I was where that last photo was taken, but I guess the boulder is further on as I don’t recollect it at all, and I am sure I would have noticed something that big! Lovely light on the water Pete. You had some good sunshine.
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It is a lovely stretch of shoreline on this side. I have never known a time when going on holiday when I didn’t have to see what the weather was going to do from day to day. Wall to wall sunshine everyday, can’t be too bad, although too hot for a lot of walking. Thank you, Jude 🙂
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I know what you mean. I can’t walk in high temperatures, I just feel sweaty and bloated. Not fun. I prefer 20 – 23 degrees. In Sydney a few years ago I had to abandon plans to explore as the heat rose to the mid / late 30s plus high humidity! I stayed indoors until evening most days before taking a stroll to the beach. Such a waste!
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20-23 is the perfect temperture! 🙂
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Lush green and deep blues. Beautiful!
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Thank you 🙂
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There is something very mysterious about stones, probably because they are often so ancient and have recorded so much history. You look like you had a brilliant holiday.
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It was a wonderful few days, but would have loved many more there. I wanted to do more walking but the heat was baking hot, but will have to catch up next time I am up there.
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Do go back there if you can, it’s so amazing. We want to try make it back in autumn when the weather might be kinder and let us get up Blencathra next time.
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I agree, autumn is the best time. I used to visit in September. I have never been uo Blencathra. That must be something quite special.
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I hope so. I will let you know when I find out 😀
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